I have a left inner CV Boot that needs replacing..What exactly does this do? Do I have to get it changed ASAP or can I wait? What are the possible dangers of not chaning it now?

I received a labor quote of 2 hours (which is %$*&). I'll probably do it myself. Can anyone give me some detailed instructions on how to change it?

 

Have fun removing your axles and all that business. I was going to do my own until I looked it up in the Helms -- no way. I actaully ended up not needing to have them done. The shop I had take a look at them told me something interesting, though. After the boots actually do split and all the lubricant/grease leaks out, the CV joints will be toast soon -- no surprise there. But, they said that replacing the whole CV joint costs almost the same as just replacing the boot. Since the boots take so much labor, they obviously are costly to replace. The CV joints come as a whole unit, with the boots already in place, so you spend a little more on parts, but way less for the labor. It ends up being slightly more expensive to have the whole CV joint done, but then you end up with brand new goodies.

 

what exactly do the boots and the joint control? suspension? handling?

 

The CV joints are a part of the assembly or drive shaft that transfers the power from your tranny to your wheels. As for the boots, they just make sure that the joints stay lubed and keep dirty from entering the CV joint.
Most boot actually fail because of dry roit than something hitting hit. What I do everytime I change my oil is inspect the boots for cracks,remove any foreign object that get caught in the folds, and spray it with armor-all to keep the rubber from drying out.

 

Spraying with armor all is a good idea to a certain extent. Armor all specifically actually increases the amount of cracking in plastic. At least that was how it was for dashboards a cuuple of years ago. They may have changed the forumation since then or maybe it's the combination of UV rays with armor all.

I know this sounds funny, but ask anybody that really details their car and they've probally heard about it.

 

Yeah, I know what your talk about, but I think they changed the formula so that it would prevent dry roiting.

 

CV means constant velocity in case someone wants to know

also the are made of butyl rubber and not plastic, right??

 

CV boots leaking grease is bad.
Sand and dirt find its way to CV joint is worse.

ndustryalGSR is right about labor/part on replacing
the whole cv joint VS CV boot.

 

I've taken mine off, but is was a big ol' PITA. Make sure you have a big A breaker bar. WD-40 the nuts the night before and have a friend help. While all that crap is off, put in a new clutch if ya need it.

Cheers

 

Wow!!! I was charged only $20 to replace the CV Boot on my Millenia S and I was also charged $20 to replace the CV joint of my Integra (labor only). The only difference is that the boot for the Millenia cost about $8 and the CV joint for my GS-R cost around $90. I guess labor is cheaper here. How hard or easy it would be to replace the boot or the joint depends on the milleage of the car and if the CV joitns comes easily out sinve sometimes they have to be broken to be removed. Replacing the axle is easier but axles are more expensive. Just my $0.02.