Cv boot replacement

[Devildragon]

Hey Guys I'm brand new to this forum just wanted to say hi and that if this topic has been covered before I apologize. but the question I have is this: My girl owns a 1996 camry four door, four cylinder, her front left cv boot is worn well its actually in two pieces. It hasn't started makin the clicking noises yet but during acceleration and deaccelertion it makes a minor thump thump sound which gets faster in acceleration and slower vice versa. I was told by the mechanic that I have to replace the whole axle and its gonna cost 250 to fix but I think this is something that I can do myself so any input or advise that you guys have please help me out it would be greatly appreciated. Sorry for the long message

[Mike Gerber]

You can do a search on this site for "axle replacement" or "cv joint replacement". It's been covered many times.

$250 seems a bit high to me. I think you can go to a place like Pep Boys and have it done for around $180-$200, so shop around a bit before you decide to do the job yourself. It can be a PITA to do yourself.

Mike

[Cyorke]

the thumping noise may be coming from suspension or tires. For the price and labor alot of times you are jsut as well off to replace the axle. The labor is higher usually to replace jsut he boot because more time is involved. Replacing the axle can be done in about an hour or so if you ahve the right tools and know how. Shop around for the best price on an axle though. Of course you dont want to just get the cheapest you can find but make sure you get one witha good warranty and all taht good stuff. THe cheapest is not always the best vaule, if you know what I mean.

[Devildragon]

the front axle was replaced two years ago so how extensive is to replace just the boot?

[Cyorke]

well ideally you want to remove the front axle. Once you do that cut the remainder of the old boot off and you need to knock the actual CV joint off with a pretty heavy hammer and preferably a brass punch of some sort so you dont damage the joint itself. once you get it off you want to clean it as well as possible. Once you get it cleaned up you can put the new boot on. then you will need to get the joint back on the axle. It can be a tight fit sometimes because there is a c-clip that holds it onto the axle shaft itself. Now you need to fill the boot and the joint with the supplied grease. Once you ahve that done tighten the clamps on the boots and you should be ready to install the axle back into the car.

I didnt do insturctions for removing the axle, I am assuming you know how to do that since you are contemplating this job in the first place.

A good resource is a Haynes manual or you can use autozone.com. They have online repair manuals for a lot of different vehicles. It is pretty much jsut the Haynes manual online. Or you can download the 92-96 Camry repair manual that is stickied on the main camry page when you open it up.

[marc780]

Kraegen makes a split boot now for like $25. Quality, reliability, who knows, not me!
Napa sells driveaxles, remanufactured, for $67, ready to install.
http://www.napaonline.com/masterpage...d=8&SubCatId=8

If you install the split boot is still a lotta work, you have to clean inside the bearing etc. and there is no guaranty the boot will hold. If you install a regular, solid boot its even more work than changing the drive axle, a lot more. And its already making noise anyway.
I'd go for the remanuf driveaxle and change it.

[terrastrife]

sounds liek a wheel bearing.

jack up the corners and wiggle the hweels if tehre theyere wrong freeplay in them.