How to Replace CV Boots from Acura Carland

Car trouble can be a major headache. That’s why the professional service team at Acura Carland wants to make sure you can see major problems coming and avoid them with preventative maintenance. CV boots are vital to keeping your wheels turning on your vehicle and can cause big problems down the road if they are not cared for when they become damaged.

CV boots are ribbed, rubber flexible boots that keep water and dirt out of the drive axle or CV joint. There is also a special grease within the CV joint which is contained by the CV boot. If a vehicle is driven with a torn CV boot, this special grease can be flung out, leading to the CV joint becoming contaminated with sand, dirt, rocks, or water, rapidly wearing out joint components. This type of damage can lead to having to replace the entire axle shaft assembly, which can be rather pricey.

If you notice a clicking or knocking sound when turning, this indicates damaged CV joints, meaning that the entire CV axle needs replacing. If there is no noise, however, it may just be your CV boot. You can replace only the boot. You may want to check with a service professional to ensure that this is the case.

To change your CV boots yourself, the materials you will need are as follows:

• Bucket

• Gloves

• Box cutter knife or single side blade

• Clamp boot pliers/cutters

• Hydraulic jack

• Lug nut wrench

• Parts cleaner

• Rags/paper towels

• Safety stands

• Safety glasses

• Wheel chocks

Once you have accumulated the necessary materials, you can begin the process of working on your vehicle in a few steps.

1. Secure your vehicle by engaging the emergency brake to ensure that the vehicle is secured to prevent it from rolling backward when being lifted. It is also important to secure the rear wheels by placing the wheel chocks behind them for extra security. This is also a good time to loosen the lug nuts by two turns as once the vehicle is lifted, this task becomes more difficult.

2. Next, you’ll want to lift the vehicle on the side that needs the replacement CV boot. Keep in mind that every vehicle has jacking points in the body frame. You can lift the vehicle properly by using a hydraulic jack at these points. Lifting a vehicle in an improper body frame location could damage the undercarriage, which is why it is important to ensure that you find the correct jacking points. Once this vehicle is lifted, it is vital to secure the vehicle with safety stands at the appropriate points of the body frame to support the vehicle’s weight properly. Remember to lift the vehicle as much as possible to provide the clearance needed to work beneath it.

Note: Never work under any vehicle before having safety stands in place.

3. At this point, it is time to remove the wheel using the lug nut wrench. Ask someone to get inside the vehicle and apply pressure on the brakes while you loosen the lug nuts.

4. Now you can remove the metal clamps, using the clamp cutters. There is one clamp on each end of the rubber boot. There will be grooves on the axle and CV joint area to specify where the boot and clamp hold down.

5. Once this is completed, you can use the box cutter or blade to cut off the old rubber boot. It is best to start to cut from the edge closest to you towards the opposite end. This can help avoid injuries.

6. After the boot is removed, it is time to clean the axle joints. Begin by placing the bucket underneath the area you will clean to avoid staining flooring. Always wear gloves and safety goggles while cleaning the axle and joints. Use the parts cleaner agent to remove old grease and debris. Use the rags or paper towels to eliminate any residue that remains.

7. Finally, it is time to begin installing the new CV boot kit.

• Grease the joint using the grease packages that are included with the purchase of the CV boot kit. Apply this new grease onto the CV joints and part of the axle.

• The CV boot comes with pre-cut grooves that you need to open and install the boot over the axle area. Once it is over the axle area, apply the glue supplied in the boot kit and stick both ends of the boot together. As soon as it dries, this glue becomes as flexible as rubber.

• Grease the inside of the new CV boot as well. Try to fill the CV boot with as much grease as possible as this can prevent any further damage to joint areas.

• It is now time to move the new CV boot into place. Notice that the smaller end of the CV boot goes on the axle shaft area and the larger opening goes over the outer CV joints. If you look closely enough, you will notice that there are grooves to indicate where the boot holds in place on both ends.

• Finally, install the clamps. Once the CV boot is in place, proceed to install the metal clamps. Use the clamp pliers to hold them in place. Once all is complete, proceed to re-install tires, remove the safety stands, and remember to disengage the emergency brake before driving.