Need to replace axle boot

[mhochman]

I was on the freeway last night and ran over something I did not have time to avoid. As it turns out it was a piece of a tire that lodged between the back of the wheel and the axle boot. I have not pulled the wheel to see the damage but I can see what looks like grease. I think the axle boot was torn. Can anyone tell me what is needed to be removed in order to replace the boot? Do I need any special tools, pullers or anything?

Thanks,
Mark

 

[BrooklynBay]

Do you have a hub puller? It attaches to the hub by the wheel studs, and the center presses against the axle. Is the boot ripped on the outer part or the inner part? If it's the inner part, then you would have to pull the entire axle. A slap hammer attachment is required which looks like a horse shoe. I know that there are a couple of different sizes for different axles. Could you post a picture of the damage? I'm not sure if they make it for your vehicle, but I think some company once came out with a universal boot cover which snaps over the axle without removing everything. This saves a lot of time. I would recommend regreasing everything after this. Some boots need a special tool for squeezing the boot clamps together.

 

[mhochman]

I just got home from work. Im going to pull the wheel off and take a closer look. I will try and post some pictures asap.

Thanks for your time,
Mark

 

[mhochman]

Here are some pictures. It looks like the outer edge was rubbed through.
The first picture is what caused the damage.
http://www.castaicdualsportriders.com/tire.jpg

here is the hole
http://www.castaicdualsportriders.com/boot1.jpg

 

[BrooklynBay]

That hole looks very small. Do you see grease leaking out?

 

[mhochman]

There was probably about 4-6 tablespoons of grease that looked like it leaked out. I cleaned it up and then cleaned the area around the leak with alcohol and applied some silicone sealer. It has not leaked since that. I do not have the proper tools, Im going to take to one of the guys that does work on my cars. What do think the charge should be? Im thinking a 2 hour job.-Mark

 

[BrooklynBay]

It's the outer boot, so it's not as much labor to replace since the axle could be connected to the vehicle. The inner boot would require removing the axle.

 

[Opera House]

Two hours!!! I just did one of these and figure about twice that. Never buy a DORMAN #614-632 QUICK BOOT, the one that is split and glued together. It is a very poor fit, but was all I could get in town. It appears the solid boot is installed by removing the clamp of the inner boot and pulling the shaft out and sliding the new boot over it. This doesn't require any special tools other than a big socket for the shaft maybe. Remove the upper/lower ball joints and the tie rod will allow the whole assembly to pull out. Just a lot of beating on things.

 

[mhochman]

Thanks for the info. I will let you know what it cost me. I was guessing one and a half to two hours of labor.

-Mark

 

[mhochman]

Well none of the ford dealers around had a boot in stock. So he removed the axle and sent it to his rebuild guy to have a boot put on. Total cost $90 and done by 4:30 the same day I took it to him. If it is ok I would like to give Larry over at Crabtree Automatics in Burbank California a .

-Mark

 

[Opera House]

That's great, but sounds like a split boot replacement at that price.

 

[mhochman]

He ordered one of them but did not like the way it looked. It is like the stock ford unit.

-Mark

 

[BrooklynBay]

Do you have a picture of the new boot? How does it drive (or is it still not finished)?

 

[mhochman]

Its done, I do not have apicture. I will take one and post it on Monday.