Replacing the CV joint boot

The CV joint boot is an important detail, despite its apparent simplicity. Its breakage or a crack in it can lead to quite disastrous consequences. Even the smallest crack on the boot can lead to failure of the entire CV joint . If you do not replace the boot immediately, then sand, dirt and water will quickly get into its microcracks, and such an abrasive mixture will instantly disable the “grenade” hinge itself, which costs much more than the cost of the protective boot.

What is a CV joint

You need to look for the CV joint on the steering mechanism of a front-wheel drive car. The decoding of the abbreviation is quite tricky – a joint of equal velocity angles, so in common parlance the spare part is called a grenade due to its external similarity. The main function of the CV joint is to transmit torque from the steering wheel to the wheels. The structure of the spare part is very simple and consists of 6 elements: a housing with an outer race, an inner race, a drive shaft, a retaining ring, a boot, and a bearing. 2 CV joints , external and internal, are part of the drive, connecting through the drive shaft.

How to understand that a CV joint needs to be replaced

The first sign of a CV joint malfunction is a crunching or crackling sound when starting the car or when turning the wheels. Having heard this crackling sound for the first time, you can additionally verify the reason for its appearance by shaking the axle shaft with your hand. You will feel some play in the connection. There’s no point in delaying replacing the spare part any longer, because in the worst case scenario, when it completely falls apart, the car will simply end up in the middle of the street and you won’t even be able to drive it to the repair shop.

The CV joint can break due to dust or moisture getting into it. In order to keep the mechanism in order, the design includes a protective boot. Holes or tears in the boot can be identified simply by eye. To do this, turn the wheels to the side until they stop. This way the boot will be completely visible. There should be no fractures, cracks or traces of oil around it. If any damage is visible on the corrugated rubber band, the boot needs to be replaced. Usually, at the same time as the boot, the CV joint itself is changed , because due to moisture and dirt it loses its functionality.

Replacing the CV joint boot

Of course, replacing a CV joint boot is not God knows what a complicated procedure, but if the replacement was not done very professionally, even a small mistake can provoke a loss of the boot’s tightness, and this is a 100% failure of an expensive CV joint . Therefore, it is better to trust the work to professionals. The cost of replacing the boot at the DK-Avto car service center is low, and the quality of the work is guaranteed.