View Full Version : Bad CV Boot?
Footin
10-21-2008, 03:52 PM
This my first post so please be gentle!
I have an 03 TB with 75,000. Last week end while doing a front break job I notice the inner CV boot on the passenger side (left side) had slung grease on the frame area. I clean the boot and surrounded area with breakclean and a rag but I cannot find a split or tear in the boot. It seems to be leaking out the the back side of the joint kinda on the area 90 degrees from the CV clamp if that makes sense.
I cannot tear into it until the weekend so I will probably just replace the shaft since I do not like split boots and and it does not seem like too bad of a job.
My question is has anyone had a leaky boot they could not find the tear or is it possible to leak out of the back side of the joint (90 degrees from the clamp next to the pan)
Just the boot can be replaced, it isn't necessary to buy a whole new shaft. You will need some special tools to do the job, since you seem to know enough to get the shaft out yourself, you could remove the shaft and just take it to the dealer and have them replace the boot. That way they won't have to charge the time for R&R or the shaft and there isn't any diagnosis for a bad boot either so I'd imagine no more than $100 + parts (and I wouldn't recommend buying Autozone special parts either, just let the dealer get the GM parts).
Footin
10-21-2008, 04:41 PM
I just ordered a new shaft from Advance Auto Parts......$70.00.
Ray Dockrey
10-21-2008, 04:52 PM
I can't imagine a dealership allowing you to just bring in the part to have it fixed. In my dealings with them they want the whole car to make sure what the issue is and the proper diagnosis is correct. I know 91RS works at a dealership so maybe his dealership is different.
I'm sorry to burst your bubble, but that sounds VERY sketchy to me. A $600 axle for $70? Something isn't right with that. I'm telling you, fix the boot. Then you keep all the factory stuff.
I can't imagine a dealership allowing you to just bring in the part to have it fixed. In my dealings with them they want the whole car to make sure what the issue is and the proper diagnosis is correct. I know 91RS works at a dealership so maybe his dealership is different.
If you want them to diagnose the car then yes they will need the car. We've a customer come in and say "I want a SRTA." Our transmission guy didn't even drive the truck first, he did what the customer wanted. They'll do whatever you want, it's just whether they can warranty it or not that's in question. If you just bought them the axle shaft have have a boot put on, they should warranty the boot but they obviously won't remove if from the truck again if you didn't pay to have them do that in the first place.
superman_79065
10-21-2008, 05:07 PM
I'm sorry to burst your bubble, but that sounds VERY sketchy to me. A $600 axle for $70? Something isn't right with that. I'm telling you, fix the boot. Then you keep all the factory stuff.
It's not "sketchy" at all...you can buy REMAN half shafts all day for 70-100 bucks with at least a year warranty.....
It's not "sketchy" at all...you can buy REMAN half shafts all day for 70-100 bucks with at least a year warranty.....
That doesn't make it much better. Why replace your stock shaft with one that had who knows what wrong with it when all you needd is a boot? Warranty doesn't mean a whole lot on that kind of stuff, yeah it has one but do you really want to have to replace it again? I wouldn't, especially considering what he's starting out with.
superman_79065
10-21-2008, 06:06 PM
That doesn't make it much better. Why replace your stock shaft with one that had who knows what wrong with it when all you needd is a boot? Warranty doesn't mean a whole lot on that kind of stuff, yeah it has one but do you really want to have to replace it again? I wouldn't, especially considering what he's starting out with.
Reman shafts get new joints and new boots...and they are balanced and checked for stress cracks. You are replacing a shaft whose joints and boots have "x" amount of miles with a part that is by all intents and purposes "new".Why hassle with removing an old shaft, replacing the boot on an old joint, and then putting it all back together when you can just replace the part AND get a warranty?
Footin
10-25-2008, 04:38 PM
The NEW shaft is installed, and it was new, not reman.
It took my buddy and I about 25 minutes start to finish.
I am usually all about staying with factory stuff, but the factory one only lasted 75k, so i will not pay a premium for another one.
JamesDowning
10-26-2008, 02:21 PM
http://www.thedownings.us/images/tb/cv-boot.jpg
Just found the same issue on mine today during my semi-weekly underbody check. I didn't notice it last time, and I hadn't been off roading in the past two weeks.
Same issue though, I can't find any sort of tear in mine either, the concentration of grease is at the rear lip of the boot.
Did you tear into your old shaft to see where the leak was? Was the strap just too loose?
Edit: I noticed Rock Auto has our CVs listed for 50... 59 shipped.
Footin
10-26-2008, 08:47 PM
I never did find a tear in the boot, it seemed to be leaking out the back side of the joint.
WOOLUF1952
10-26-2008, 08:58 PM
I had that same problem in my Envoy. Found it just before going on vacation so I took it to the dealer. It was leaking because the clamp was loose. Dealer replaced the clamp and all is good.
gmcman
10-27-2008, 06:44 AM
Had the same prob with mine and my trusty wrench told me GM didn't really tighten the clamps enough so he replaced mine and all is good.
For the DIY-ers, he mentioned the inner uses a different grease than the outer. Whether or not the outer is good enough for the inner just some food for thought, I have not researched this but the outer jount has far more stress than the inner.
If you take on this task yourself, be sure to have a second hand nearby because if the boot slips off the pod while trying to clamp, it's a challenge to reinstall the boot while trying to secure the clamp.....want's to keep pulling off and the boots are stubborn.
JamesDowning
11-19-2008, 04:23 PM
Figured I would follow up here.
I had my mechanic look into the leak. At first we agreed that it was a loose clamp. He replaced it, but noticed a minor tear in the boot that was otherwise impossible to see.
He replaced the boot with a new one (which required taking the suspension apart and removing the CV) for $130.