About 3 weeks ago I noticed a slight ticking upon turning left or right at low speeds in my 1999 Honda accord 4cyl. I know this is the telltale sign of a torn CV boot, so I look under the car and what do you know? Both boots at the left and right wheel are busted open and grease is starting to clump up around the surrounding parts. It doesn't look like too much grease is missing though, I stuck a finger in and its still packed pretty well considering the circumstance.

Anyhow, I have a 400 mile round trip this weekend on Sunday from NJ to MD for a federal job test, really big deal. I get this and I get the job basically. My dilemma is that the only day I can work on the car is Saturday. I've done all sorts of things on cars before but never a CV job and I was afraid that I wouldn't finish come Sunday when it's time to leave.

What could possibly go wrong if I push my car 400 more miles even though the joints are still packed with grease? Do you guys think I'll make it? Has anyone gone months or longer without doing CV joints? Also, how long might it take me to do considering that I've done jobs like engine replacements, transmission swaps, and miscellaneous engine repairs (All RWD cars)?

 

It should only take about 2 hrs per side assuming you have the proper tools and you don't run into anything that holds you up. I would definitely NOT touch them until after your trip. They will run indefinitely like they are. It won't hurt anything to run them with the boots torn if you are going to replace them anyway. They will continue to wear, but they should easily last for your 400 mile trip.

 

other than putting grease anywhere down there, it wont hurt much especially if it just started.

It wouldnt be good if you planned on just changing the boots and re-packing them with grease, but if you get new ones, it doesnt matter.