my passenger side outer CV boot is torn, but when I asked a few auto an CV joint specialist he said that I should replace the whole half shaft, but when I checked at a few auto parts stores they sell just the boot, I guess my question is how hard is it to replace just the boot on this shaft?, I've changed out whole half shafts before, but never just the boot, it doesn't look difficult, can some one help me out?

 

Honda sells complete re-man axles, but only for 86-89 and 90-93 Accords I think.

If the boot has been ripped for a while and all the grease is slung out, chances are your joint is bad... even if it's not clicking. My experience with cleaning them out thoroughly in a parts washer and re-packing only saves about 50% of them. It's also pretty messy until you get the hang of it. At this point (20 years doing this stuff) I don't bother any more... I just go ahead and replace the joint if the boot blows.

Get a Honda outer joint kit which will come with everything you need as far as parts. They retail for $100 - $125. Pull the whole axle and work with it off the car. Don't let the inner joint come apart unless you plan to do all 4 boots, bands and grease while you're in there (recommended )

I use a cutoff wheel to cut through the old bands and peel them off. Then use a razor blade to cut the torn boot off. Wipe the excess grease off the outer joint. Hold the axle in one hand with the bad inner joint hanging downward, then take a BFH and beat the old joint off. The new joint comes pre-packed with grease... remember to put the boot on before the joint. READ THE INSTRUCTIONS because the joint has to be positioned on the axle in a particular spot. If you push it on too far you're hosed !!!!

If you're doing just the boot, you need to take it off the inner end of the axle. Remove the inner joint, inner boot, "tripod" inner joint thingy (requires snap ring pliers) harmonic damper and outer boot. When you go to put the new boots on, try spraying them with a bit of WD40... they'll go on like magic.

It's a messy job and there are probably 100 "preferred" ways to do it. Get a Helm manual, some old clothes and go at it. If you keep things clean you'll find it easier.

 

P.S. - that's not meant to be a step-by-step how-to.... just meant to give you some idea what you need to do and what some of your options are.

 

They got them upto the '97s.

BTW, the outer joint kit from Honda retails for about $220. For that price, you are better off asking the dealer for a driveshaft set. That will get you the outer cv joint, the axle, an outer cv boot kit, and an inner cv boot kit for the retail price of $175. Install your inner joint and you are ready to roll.

 

I couldn't remember off the top of my head what the cutoff whas but, yeah, if they have a reman axle available for your car just do that. It;s cheaper, easier, less messy and you get both joints instead of just one.

 

I agree with the recommendation to just get a new reman axle. A LOT easier and more predictable imo.

 

Since the boot was already torn, you should replace the axle. The boot alone would only make sense if you're doing this before it broke open. There's been dirt in there, possibly damaged the CV joint.

 

I hope to avoid a whole topic on this, so here goes.

I pretty much have the same situation. 275k miles on the orig cv joints. been clicking for at least 200k miles. I recently replaced the rotors, ball joints and tie ends. During that process, I pulled apart my right side cv joint. I got it back in, but I wasnt confident of the job. That was about 3k miles ago. Now I think one cv joint is bad. I get very bad rumble and especially over 40mph and espeically turning right (that was the side I pulled apart).

So, I want to get new parts, since everything else is new. Aftermarket are $60 each(for the kit). He said they werent reman. Honda wants $220 each.

Are the Honda ones worth the difference?

When you say inner and outer, do you mean there is an inner and outer on each side, or inner is one side of the engine and outer is the other?

I dont want to have to assemble the joints at all. Sounds like a "driveaxle set" includes grease and assembly.

Thanks, Spy

 

Each axle has an inner & outer joint. Inner joint sits against the tranny; outer joint sits out at the steering knuckle.

I don't know about aftermarket; they may be very good but I don't even know who makes the ones you're looking at.

Driveaxle set would have the joints all greased & assembled & sealed up in their rubber boots.

 

Ok, from two Honda parts, the lowest I got was $137 per side, whoesale, but I dont have an EID. Im going to take my chances with the aftermarket - $70 per side. If it goes south, ill be a friggin front end specialist and ill be quick to switch. Of course, theres the 3 days for Honda.

Thanks Jim

~S