CV boot leak. Hlp plz.

[jlsparky7]

Looks like both my front CV boots are leaking. What would be involved in fixing this? New seals on the diff? axle seals, cv boots, or what? I can shoot some video of it or take pics if thatll help but I would like to fix it in the next couple days.

Thanks in advance.

 

[gijoecam]

Which boots? Inner or outer? Are they split? If the inners are leaking, is it grease, or gear lube? We've got to know what's leaking before we can tell you how to fix it...

 

[jlsparky7]

Which boots? Inner or outer? Are they split? If the inners are leaking, is it grease, or gear lube? We've got to know what's leaking before we can tell you how to fix it...

Its the inners im pretty sure. They arnt split they look like new, its leaking around them (underbody is VERY rusty). It is gear lube coming out. Ill get pictures or video of it today and post it.

 

[gijoecam]

There is no gear lube in the CV joints. If it's gear lube, it's your front axle shaft seals that are leaking. They are readily available (and cheap) from any auto parts store. IIRC, about $7 each.

 

[jlsparky7]

There is no gear lube in the CV joints. If it's gear lube, it's your front axle shaft seals that are leaking. They are readily available (and cheap) from any auto parts store. IIRC, about $7 each.

Must be that then. How hard is it to replace them? Any how-tos on here?

 

[gavin]

Must be that then. How hard is it to replace them? Any how-tos on here?

it's not THAT difficult... remove axle shaft, use slide hammer (preferrably) to remove old seal.
find a large socket, tap the new one in place.

haven't seen any pictures/tutorials around here on that though.

 

[jlsparky7]

it's not THAT difficult... remove axle shaft, use slide hammer (preferrably) to remove old seal.
find a large socket, tap the new one in place.

haven't seen any pictures/tutorials around here on that though.

Maybe ill be a first. Thanks a lot. Very helpful.

 

[rwz23]

I just put a new cv axle shaft assembly on the passenger side front and it was fine for the first day then on the second it started leaking gear lube on the differential side where the small piece of the cv axle shaft inserts into the main axle... is there a seal in there somewhere that needs to be replaced?

 

[gavin]

there is a seal that goes in the outside of the axle tube.

how much is it leaking?

even after replacing the seals on my old axle housing, and even with different half shafts (new and remanufactured), it still leaked a bit of lube from both sides, but mainly the passenger side.

I've ignored it, since I could not get it to stop.

 

[parad1mg]

mine still leaks too when i did the driver side.. are we missing something here? i mean its really straightforward remove and replace type of install.. i even replaced the seal twice just to be sure but it still leaks

i believe mine leaks when moving since i have gear oil splatter all over the cv axle shaft seal area..

 

[gavin]

well, I gotta say, I don't think it's completely unusual.

look at the type of seal it is, and how loose of a fit it has on the axle shaft.

the lips of the seal are very thin and flimsy.

 

[parad1mg]

yeah but the original ones that i had did not leak a single drop..

i guess i shouldnt have replaced the original cv since it only had a tear in the outer boot

 

[pindlepiper]

Replaced lower ball joints on my ex last night and put a small cut on outter passenger cv boot. It seems alot of people have seal leaks if they replace the cv shaft so i was wondering if there is anything i could do to repair the boot without having to replace it. Its a pretty small cut but it is leaking a little grease. RTV on it maybe? Thanks

 

[gavin]

rough it up a bit with some coarse sandpaper, then put some rubber cement on. After that cures, smear on a bit of RTV.

That's how I did it, anyway. Rough it up to help the rubber cement stick, and the rubber cement is to give something for the RTV to stick to.

 

[pindlepiper]

Thanks alot Gavin, i am going to try that tomorrow. How long has yours lasted like this? any problems with it?

 

[midiout]

Good idea to use rubber cement or silicon if it is a smalll rip.

 

[gavin]

Thanks alot Gavin, i am going to try that tomorrow. How long has yours lasted like this? any problems with it?

I replaced the CV for other reasons.
but it lasted several months, anyway, without ever leaking any more.