Nearside CV boot split. 52 1.1 Desire

25th July 2012, 23:07

Hi all,

Long time no post - Saxo is serving me well!

Except for this 'relatively minor' issue... Dad noticed some grease/oil on the drive the other day, eventually turns out it is my n/s CV joint boot split right at the driveshaft seal, in other words, right under the edge of the metal collar on the hub side; pissing out grease everywhere.

Question is, how to go about replacing it, i.e. just replace the boot (bear in mind its only been like it for about a week) and if so how and with what; the whole driveshaft; both driveshafts (no problems with the o/s one) or what? How much do garages charge too and would it be an easy D.I.Y job to do over a weekend?

Trying to get out of debt from Uni' so a huge-ass job for such a niggling problem to go to the garage is not ideal! Use the car almost every day too!

Could risk leaving it but don't want to mash the CV joint and MOT is due in October, and it probs needs a service before then too...

Any tips and advice would be appreciated guys.

Cheers in advance.

25th July 2012, 23:27

Sup Mike,

Very little point in taking it to a garage, especially if you're on a tight budget. But it really depends on how happy you are to get your hands dirty?

Realistically you're better off replacing the shaft rather than just replacing the boot, my bro-in-law always seems to be replacing boots on his cars' cv, only to replace them again months down the line.

So buy a driveshaft, you'll get a discount when you return your old one (they tend to work on an exchange basis).

you'll need to... jack up, put on axle stands, remove wheel, remove driveshaft nut, undo strut-to-wishbone (pinch) bolt, push/pull wishbone down until balljoint end comes out of strut, pull the hub/brake disk like a crazy man and get a mate to pull the shaft out from the hub, once it's out that end put out the shaft from the gearbox, watch gearoil pee out everywhere, be quick and bosh the new shaft in. Replacement is reversal of above!

25th July 2012, 23:48

Cheers for the quick reply Barry,

Thought it might have to be the shaft - though how knackered do you reckon the joint would really be after peeing out grease for only a week and only motorway driving? And aren't there tools for removing the boots properly, or are they epically expensive?

Getting my hands dirty depends on the mood im in - and I'm always in the mood for saving money!

Can deffo have a go (sure my Dad will help) but it ALWAYS sounds so much easier than it is haha, that or I'm just too much of a rookie!

Would you reckon doing the other side driveshaft at the same time is a good idea too? And I take it new driveshaft seals etc. are neccesary?

25th July 2012, 23:56

yeah its wayyyy simpler on a forum than in real life.... lol

If it's not knocking or making any weird noises then it's probably okay (for the time being), have you inspected the boot? Is it a hole or a split? You could repack it with grease and seal it up with a jubliee/butterfly clip as a temporary measure (will fail an MOT though) until a time when you've got a bit more cash/time.

26th July 2012, 00:04

The boot is split longitudinally for about 2cm like I say right under the metal collar which fixes it to the driveshaft if you know what I mean, not split anywhere in the ridges or dips, or along the rubber - it took us about 5-10 minutes to actually work out where the grease was coming from because we couldn't see any splits in the boot.

Not a bad idea for a temporary fix since it is so small, but like I say it is due a service soon and MOT in October will be here quicker than I think, but my job is seasonal/temporary and work is likely to die down in the next few weeks so it will be ideal to do it all then rather than being out and about care-free enjoying the summer, of course.

Have the next two days off so will probs get round to a noise test tomorrow and let you know how it goes - that is if the wheel doesn't fall off first!

26th July 2012, 00:24

Personally I'd remove the shaft and change it, its not that bad a job when the weather is good like it is now. If you really want to be ghetto, squirt some grease through the hole with a syringe and seal it up using some tiger seal but thats really a get you home fix, and wont be MOT standard

26th July 2012, 12:56

Hi Gandi,

I'd far rather do a proper job than anything - only problem is I'm not as mechanically minded as I'd like to be! I'll get round to getting some quotes from garages today or tomorrow just in case but it will probably be a D.I.Y job and since I can pick up a whole new driveshaft for under £50 it seems the way to go rather than faffing around putting a new boot on the old one!

Off out in a bit and will whirl it around in an empty car park and see if there's any unwanted noises!

Will let you know.

Cheers guys.

26th July 2012, 19:33

Near/Side -> £34.99

Off/Side -> £34.99

CV Boot Kit (Inner) -> £3.99

CV Boot Kit (Outer) -> £3.99

I thought they would be crap quality tbh, but always been impressed with these for the price. Quick delivery, unlimited mileage 2 year warranty. The CV boot kits are really easy to fit

27th July 2012, 10:43

Ok all,

Went out yesterday, and the first thing I thought was "why do no Saxos have air conditioning?!" seriously, it was f#cking boiling and I just can't get the thing cool in this weather! Was sweating like a pig even in shorts and t-shirt... But then, tomorrow it'll be pissing it down, so not to worry!

Anyway, I whipped it around a car park, turned the radio and fans off, closed windows (hence my complaints about no air-con, and me nearly dying of heat exhaustion) done the steering-full-lock-left-and-right-driving-round-in-circles-like-a-nutjob routine as well as some sharp braking and acceleration, and fortunately no unusual noises emanated from anywhere, suggesting that the CV leak is indeed very recent and no wear has set in to the driveshaft yet.

So would you still suggest I replace the driveshaft anyway, and otherwise how easy is it to fit those CV boots onto a current driveshaft, I hear it's quite a frustrating and difficult job - one I definitely wouldn't be able to do according to that haha?

Outrage those prices you've suggested look pretty much the best, I have heard one or two good things about J&R but I'm always weary of patent parts especially for stuff like driveshafts, even though they come with a 2 year guarantee (bit useless if they break when driving along and wreck the car though) apart from the fact they might not be exact fits etc., should I be weary?

27th July 2012, 12:13

I was at first mate, but fitted a pair on my VTS and I've had no problems. Perfect fit, ABS is fine, seems good quality.

Never had any problems when used on other people's cars I've been fixing either.

The stretch CV boots are pretty easy to fit, if not a little messy. You put them in boiling water for 10 minutes, turn them inside out and stretch them over your CV joints then turn them the proper way, grease the joints and clamp on

27th July 2012, 12:25

Thanks Outrage, sounds good enough to me. What do you reckon the labour costs for something like that should be (replacing the driveshaft OR the gaiter)?

Though I'll probably do it myself anyway (+ Dad's assistance

), it would just be good to know.

27th July 2012, 12:33

No more than an hour, whatever your areas hourly charge is

27th July 2012, 12:37

So that's about £90 then haha.

I shall make a few calls and see what people say, though I shall be supplying parts.

Keep you posted,

Cheers all.

27th July 2012, 14:49

How does this sound, from my garage in the village:

O/S driveshaft labour only: £42 + VAT
O/S driveshaft CV joint gaiter only labour only: £21 + VAT ?

Better than I thought!

27th July 2012, 15:02

I find it easier (and cleaner) replacing the whole driveshaft than the gaiter to be honest.

You could replace both drive shafts and change the gear box oil for ~£80 if your prepared to spend an hour or 2 on it yourself.

Said that, they are reasonable quotes in this day and age if you don't want the hassle

27th July 2012, 15:16

At that price it would be a no brainer for me,i`d take it to the garage.

27th July 2012, 15:30

It all depends how able and willing you are to do it yourself really.

Like i said, you could do it yourself... 2 brand new driveshafts, with 2 litres of new good quality gearbox oil for around £80.

Have the garage change 1 driveshaft and probably use your existing oil = £85

Have the garage change your gaiter and hope there is no damage to your CV joint = £30

27th July 2012, 16:46

Hmm, tough one! Have to say I was planning on doing a diy job but after finding out the garage costs are far more reasonable than expected (the same garage charge £50 for an ECU scan) it is swaying me more towards that - especially as the car will only be out of commission for only a few hours - ideal when I still need to go to work.

You all suggest useful things which I deffo should consider, especially your last point Outrage.

I shall speak to the ol' man and get some of his advice (guessing none of you lot have +/- 53 years of mechanical d.i.y mechanical experience behind you haha

) and will let you know which way I go.

Either way just been to Tesco and checked under it before I left and its still excreting grease so its a little while to go before its totally knackered I'd say... :/