I read a lot from members having torn boots or bad CV joints on 4Matics and usually they have a dilemma of spending $1300 for new axle at dealer or install questionable rebuilds, or China-made axle.
I've been driving VW in the past, where the same UV joints are used for at least 30 years, so had my cut in replacing those, but recently I was preparing 4M for my brother and when one boot was torn and took me well over 1hr to clean the mess, the other was 12 years old still holding. Brother is not mechanically-inclined so I preemptively replaced the outer boot for him.
Inner boots are like rear axle boots - they can last 20 and 30 year so no worry about them for now.
They say a picture is worth 1000 words, so let the pictures do the talking.
The 3 needed sockets are 17 mm for wheels, 22mm for ball joint and 27mm for CV joint bolt.
Feel free to ask questions if the pictures are not clear.
I bought a boot set for $22 and the few minutes (see the clock) spend on preventive replacement every 10 or so years can sure save you lot of hassle down the road. Joints last for decades, but they don't like torn boots and elements replacing the grease.
I've been driving VW in the past, where the same UV joints are used for at least 30 years, so had my cut in replacing those, but recently I was preparing 4M for my brother and when one boot was torn and took me well over 1hr to clean the mess, the other was 12 years old still holding. Brother is not mechanically-inclined so I preemptively replaced the outer boot for him.
Inner boots are like rear axle boots - they can last 20 and 30 year so no worry about them for now.
They say a picture is worth 1000 words, so let the pictures do the talking.
The 3 needed sockets are 17 mm for wheels, 22mm for ball joint and 27mm for CV joint bolt.
Feel free to ask questions if the pictures are not clear.
I bought a boot set for $22 and the few minutes (see the clock) spend on preventive replacement every 10 or so years can sure save you lot of hassle down the road. Joints last for decades, but they don't like torn boots and elements replacing the grease.
