My cv boots are cracked, though I don't notice any difference in driving. How important are they?

 

if you dont notice any clicking or clunking when turning or anything...you should be alright for the moment...but id get a cv boot repair kit and change them cracked cv's are not good once dirt and grime get in them they start to click when making turns and it makes them easier to snap the axle.

 

if your boots are torn, and the grease is gone, eventually the CV joint will break down. If you've got aftermarket axles that cost alot of money it's fairly important.

if it's just any old axle that you don't give a rat's *** about, you're better off swapping out the axle with a rebuilt OEM axle from autozone b/c CV boot replacement is kind of a pita.

just a point of note: I've had better luck with OEM axles than with rebuilt axles, however, there's no way i'm paying however much the stealership is charging for OEM axles. My driver's side axle is a rebuilt unit, my passenger side is OEM, so if a boot goes on my pass. side, i'll just reboot it (~$30 for the boot kit at the dealiership), if a boot goes on the driver's side i'll replace the whole axle.

 

I think autozone axles sit at around $90ish. CV boot kits are like $35. But it takes me forever to change the cv boot, and i'd just take the new axle.

Aren't autozone axles lifetime warrantied too?