LMHmedchem
Elite Explorer
- Joined
- October 28, 2011
- Messages
- 658
- Reaction score
- 114
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2002 Explorer XLT v8
Hello,
I have the passengers front CV axle in my shop for some maintenance. I have a new outer boot and am getting ready to install it after a bit of cleanup. I am tempted to flush out all the old grease with brake cleaner/carb cleaner/paint thinner/etc before adding the new grease that came with the boot. I like things clean and I like to inspect parts before they go back in. Inspection is difficult since I can't see anything under the grease. The CV joint is stiffer than I expected but does seem to work in that it moves in all directions. I don't see anything that is obviously broken, at least from what I can see around the grease. I am concerned that the packet of grease that came with the boot was intended to apply over the existing grease and that there won't be enough of it if I remove the grease that is already there. On the other hand, it looks like there is allot of grease in the package. I also don't want to bother to install a new boot and reinstall the axle if it's broken in some way I can't see.
What is the standard procedure for this?
Also, the inner boot is still intact so I wasn't planning on replacing it. When I stretch the boot, cracks appear down in the folds of the bellows. The cracks don't go all the way through the rubber as of yet. What is the story on how long these last? Will the inner boot fail soon after it starts showing this kind of wear, or can they still last a long time at that point?
Information would be appreciated.
LMHmedchem
I have the passengers front CV axle in my shop for some maintenance. I have a new outer boot and am getting ready to install it after a bit of cleanup. I am tempted to flush out all the old grease with brake cleaner/carb cleaner/paint thinner/etc before adding the new grease that came with the boot. I like things clean and I like to inspect parts before they go back in. Inspection is difficult since I can't see anything under the grease. The CV joint is stiffer than I expected but does seem to work in that it moves in all directions. I don't see anything that is obviously broken, at least from what I can see around the grease. I am concerned that the packet of grease that came with the boot was intended to apply over the existing grease and that there won't be enough of it if I remove the grease that is already there. On the other hand, it looks like there is allot of grease in the package. I also don't want to bother to install a new boot and reinstall the axle if it's broken in some way I can't see.
What is the standard procedure for this?
Also, the inner boot is still intact so I wasn't planning on replacing it. When I stretch the boot, cracks appear down in the folds of the bellows. The cracks don't go all the way through the rubber as of yet. What is the story on how long these last? Will the inner boot fail soon after it starts showing this kind of wear, or can they still last a long time at that point?
Information would be appreciated.
LMHmedchem