CV Boot DONE!!!!

**Kris Hansen** · 11-17-2004, 08:29 AM

Actually, it's been done since Saturday, but finally getting around to posting about it.. Not really all that bad of a job in the overall sense, but it is VERY messy, and a little tedious..

Inside of wheel before cleaning.

Start by loosening the collar bolt on the axle:

Then, jack the car and remove the tire. Pull the bolt out. Pop the 'pinch bolt' out of the upright, and pop the upper arms out of the upright.

Push the axle out of the hub, and swing to the side. According to the Bently, there is a clip holding the CV joint on. Well, there is, but it's IMPOSSIBLE to get at with the joint in place. This is a sacrificial clip. You drive the joint on over it, when the joint is on all the way, the clip holds it on the axle. As you press the joint off the axle, the clip gets destroyed, which is why you replace it.

Pressing the joint off of the axle is easy enough, BUT, according to the AudiWorld tech article, you can use the collar bolt to drive the joint off. Well, for whatever reason, on my car, the bolt was not long enough to drive it all the way off. I used my 2 arm puller to pull it the rest of the way off.

I cleaned the joint thoroughly, packed new grease in, put the boot on the axle (this is a HUGE pain, making sure that the small end does not turn itself inside out, which it wants to do) and drove the joint back on the axle with my rubber faced dead blow.

Put it all back together, happy as a clam. Remember, the torque on the collar bolt is 114nm (84 lb/ft) +180 degrees. This is a little scary the first time you do it, but you MUST. All said, it took around 2 hours or so, taking my sweet time.

Interestingly enough, the strange low howl noise that my car made at speeds over 60 mph appears to have been caused by the old boot (or something else on that axle, as it's GONE.

carbonLORD · 11-17-2004, 08:59 AM

Glad they are still covering mine, but it looks fairly easy, and messy.

slimmn · 11-17-2004, 09:07 AM

por911 · 11-17-2004, 09:11 AM

Lately, I've just replaced the whole axle and been done with it.

slimmn · 11-17-2004, 09:28 AM

As far as the mess goes, mine went pretty well. Used 4 cans of brake cleaner though.

**Kris Hansen** · 11-17-2004, 09:48 AM

**Kris Hansen** · 11-17-2004, 09:50 AM

plus, I somehow couldn't find my 10mm triple square driver..

**Kris Hansen** · 11-17-2004, 09:52 AM

so, replacing the whole axle was not really cost effetive for me! :-) But yeah, if the joint was bad, replacing the whole thing would make sense..

AndyA6 · 11-17-2004, 10:52 AM

por911 · 11-17-2004, 12:03 PM

I forget, check with ECS, thats where I got it. Yep, it feels like a brand new car again. Its funny how much those cv's effect noise and ride quality. It saved me a ton of time and ag. The axle just unbolts, pulls right out, and slip the new one in. Take it for what its worth, I'm probably too retentive about our cars and like everything to a high standard on them. Good luck

11-17-2004, 08:29 AM	#1
Kris Hansen Chief of Goat control Account #: 20 Join Date: Oct 2000 Posts: 66,548,190	CV Boot DONE!!!! Actually, it's been done since Saturday, but finally getting around to posting about it.. Not really all that bad of a job in the overall sense, but it is VERY messy, and a little tedious.. Inside of wheel before cleaning. Start by loosening the collar bolt on the axle: Then, jack the car and remove the tire. Pull the bolt out. Pop the 'pinch bolt' out of the upright, and pop the upper arms out of the upright. Push the axle out of the hub, and swing to the side. According to the Bently, there is a clip holding the CV joint on. Well, there is, but it's IMPOSSIBLE to get at with the joint in place. This is a sacrificial clip. You drive the joint on over it, when the joint is on all the way, the clip holds it on the axle. As you press the joint off the axle, the clip gets destroyed, which is why you replace it. Pressing the joint off of the axle is easy enough, BUT, according to the AudiWorld tech article, you can use the collar bolt to drive the joint off. Well, for whatever reason, on my car, the bolt was not long enough to drive it all the way off. I used my 2 arm puller to pull it the rest of the way off. I cleaned the joint thoroughly, packed new grease in, put the boot on the axle (this is a HUGE pain, making sure that the small end does not turn itself inside out, which it wants to do) and drove the joint back on the axle with my rubber faced dead blow. Put it all back together, happy as a clam. Remember, the torque on the collar bolt is 114nm (84 lb/ft) +180 degrees. This is a little scary the first time you do it, but you MUST. All said, it took around 2 hours or so, taking my sweet time. Interestingly enough, the strange low howl noise that my car made at speeds over 60 mph appears to have been caused by the old boot (or something else on that axle, as it's GONE.

11-17-2004, 08:59 AM	#2
carbonLORD AudiWorld Uber User Account #: 33185 Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 42,983	Good job! Glad they are still covering mine, but it looks fairly easy, and messy. __________________ "Change is inevitable" \| RS 6 Stuff \| www.carbonLORD.com \| 08 TT 2.0

11-17-2004, 09:07 AM	#3
slimmn Junior Member Account #: 51550 Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 1,751	Nice going. I did mine by removing the whole axle. Looks scary initially, but glad I did it myself.

11-17-2004, 09:11 AM	#4
por911 Junior Member Account #: 53556 Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,892	Congrats, thats just a dirty job, no way around it... Lately, I've just replaced the whole axle and been done with it.

11-17-2004, 09:28 AM	#5
slimmn Junior Member Account #: 51550 Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 1,751	How much for the axle? And did you noticed if steering/drive was smoother after replacement? As far as the mess goes, mine went pretty well. Used 4 cans of brake cleaner though.

11-17-2004, 09:48 AM	#6
Kris Hansen Chief of Goat control Account #: 20 Join Date: Oct 2000 Posts: 66,548,190	Thanks! Yeah, it's not difficult really, but it CAN be if your car is stubborn..

11-17-2004, 09:50 AM	#7
Kris Hansen Chief of Goat control Account #: 20 Join Date: Oct 2000 Posts: 66,548,190	Thanks! I was tempted to remove the axle, but, wanted to see how it was 'on the car'... plus, I somehow couldn't find my 10mm triple square driver..

11-17-2004, 09:52 AM	#8
Kris Hansen Chief of Goat control Account #: 20 Join Date: Oct 2000 Posts: 66,548,190	Thanks! Yes, it is INCREDIBLY dirty.. Lucky for me, I had 2 boot kits 'dontated' by a fellow AWer... so, replacing the whole axle was not really cost effetive for me! :-) But yeah, if the joint was bad, replacing the whole thing would make sense..

11-17-2004, 10:52 AM	#9
AndyA6 Audiworld Junior Member Account #: 11834 Join Date: Oct 2000 Posts: 776	Yep, messy!!! I like your puller, wish I had that!!!!!! __________________ AndyA6 '04 Treg V8 '03 Silver/black A4 1.8T Quattro 5-speed with KO4 and other goodies Make snowtires mandatory! Stay right except to pass! What's the confusing part?

11-17-2004, 12:03 PM	#10
por911 Junior Member Account #: 53556 Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,892	Comments after replacement... I forget, check with ECS, thats where I got it. Yep, it feels like a brand new car again. Its funny how much those cv's effect noise and ride quality. It saved me a ton of time and ag. The axle just unbolts, pulls right out, and slip the new one in. Take it for what its worth, I'm probably too retentive about our cars and like everything to a high standard on them. Good luck

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode


Discussion Forums:	Advanced Search