K my 92 Accord ex has a bad valve cover gasket and a small tear in the front left cv boot. I know the Cv boot can be replaced ala Autozone for $15, but I digress .Should I try and replace the boot or just get a new axle? I think the tear is small, but I havent looked yet. I need to clean the engine before I do anything, its pretty messy from the bad gasket. I've never done any work on this car, used to my 87 caprice [sheds a tear]. Any suggestions about how to go about doing this? (have no clue) Shop estimate is like $280 so I think they are ripping me

 

Valve cover gasket is a no brainer. Be sure old gasket is completely off head and valve cover. If yours is a high mileage, I'd replace the axle assembly. If you're adventurous, pull the CV joint apart and inspect then if it looks good repack and put new boot on.

 

axle assembly? Does that mean the axle and both joints? arg this is still gonna be expensive it sounds

 

Rebuilt axle for your car should be ~$180 from Dealer, about $50 from dealer. The rebuild kit from dealer is $50. Like said above, if high milage get a rebuilt axle, up to you which one. And the cam cover gasket I can replace in about 15 minutes while eating a sandwich with one hand. Do yourself a favor and have Autozone lend you the torque wrench and Pitman Arm puller, those will come in handy for axle.

 

meh 124k is high mileage I supppose, but I dont think Im mechanically inclined enough to replace the axle myself....Valve cover I can hadle, but I think I might just have the shop replace the axle I guess.....

 

Labor should be around $90, so if you do the rebuilt Autozone one it should be around $140-150.

 

SO a rebuilt axle from autozone plus labor is gonna be $150? or just the axle? I ws confused by your previous posts????

 

actually, replacing the axle is pretty simple. way easier than repacking the CV. you will have quite a time removing the axle nut if it's never been taken off before though.

parts store will be cheapest way to get a rebuilt axle. You give them your old one for a core charge refund when you are done. dealer will be most expensive place. I'm pretty big on honda genuine parts, but for the axle it's probably OK. lots of people use the parts store brand.

 

replacing your axle is incredibly easy to do. before after i replaced my axle and transmission ( 2 different occasions ) i couldnt believe i paid to get this done before. u basically need a torque wrench, 3 sockets, a nice heavy duty flat head, and a friend to step on the brakes twice. have the friend step on the brake, loosen the axle nut. then there are 2 cotterpins holding lower control arm, and tie rod?. take those off. lift the hub assemblyup and pop the axle out. swing the hub out out of the way and use your screw driver to pull the axle out of the tranny. be carefull not to damage the axle seal. pop out the axle, pop the new one in. and reverse what i said above. shouldnt take no more then a half hour if everything pops out easily.