How serious is a CV boot leak?

This may seem like an obscure part, one that you don’t have to worry about. But CV boots serve a simple but important purpose and allow the CV axles and joints to stay clean and enjoy a long service life. When a CV boot leaks, it can cause the attached joint to become damaged posing a serious safety hazard.

How long can you drive with leaking CV boot?

There is no real set time how long the bad joint will last, and it may last a year or a month. A YourMechanic technician can travel to your location and help and replace the axle CV joint boot as soon as possible.

What causes a CV boot to tear?

Grease leak A grease leak is the first symptom that is most commonly associated with a bad or failing CV boot. Over time, with exposure to the elements a CV boot can become dry or brittle and crack or tear. A torn boot can also allow dirt, debris, and moisture to enter the CV joint, which will damage the joint.

How do you install a CV boot on a car?

Being split, this CV boot is installed by simply opening up the boot at the split and placing it over and around the CV joint. The boot uses a special glue or large clamps to seal the boot tightly around the CV joint. The split-boot design is installed without removing the wheel, hub or any other parts.

How much does a CV boot kit cost?

CV boot kits can be purchased at your local auto parts store or online. The cost for a CV boot kit can range from a low of around $8 to as much as $40, depending on the vehicle you drive and the quality of boot kit you purchase. A CV boot kit comes with a CV Joint Boot, CV Joint Grease Pack and Glue or Clamps.

What are the different types of replacement CV boots?

There are basically three types of replacement CV boots. These are explained as follows: The first type is a conventional CV boot design, which requires the CV axle to be removed from the vehicle and then the CV joint to be removed from the axle before packing the joint with grease and installing the CV boot.

Can a broken CV boot on a front wheel drive be repaired?

This Instructable will show how to replace a broken CV boot on a front wheel drive vehicle without disassembling it or replacing the entire shaft. This guide is an inexpensive way to repair the boots only, but if the boots have been torn for a while then the axle bearings may be worn out and the entire axle may need to be replaced.