CV joint on the way out...too late to replace boot?

2002 VW Passat 1.8T, FWD. Driver side outside CV boot has a crack around the entire diameter in the middle. Much grease is gone. I didn't notice this until yesterday when making a left turn, applied power, heard steady but soft clicking noise coming from the front wheel. Ever since then, I have been very gentle on the accelerator during left turns - I can make it not click by driving gently.

Is this CV joint salvageable? Should I spend $15 and 3 hours pulling the axle, replacing the boot, adding fresh grease? Or is it too late, joint is shot, and just "run it into the ground" and wait for spring and do the whole half-axle?

Thanks for any info.

 

Bite the bullet and replace the half-shaft now or you'll be seeing me professionally when you can least afford a breakdown. And plan on doing the other side either at the same time or as soon as possible afterwards.

 

tow guy's right. The soft "clicking" you hear now will get louder and more constant before you know it and before you are ready for it. Trust me, if you don't replace the joint/shaft now, it WILL leave you high and dry at the most inopportune time. Murphy's law works very well here...

 

I have had decent success, if the joint is not too far gone, pull the joint apart and wash out all the dirt, repack with new grease, and replace the boot. If the clicking is still there replace the joint or axle shaft, if it is gone drive on.

 

Seems like a lot of work for a shaft you can buy remanned for a hundred bucks with a limited lifetime warranty, twister. Beer 4U2

 

I also would replace the half shaft assy. Most DIY people on this board do not have all the tools required to preform surgery on the joint. like a press or whatever else you need.

 

Sorry Tow Guy, been a long time since i worked on cars, in the day the joint itself used to cost 2 or 3 hundred dollars, making a repair attempt worth the effort.

 

Yeah, 300 dollars would make it worth tinkering with.

 

I looked it up and for 98 bucks you can get the whole assy not bad for a German car.

 

Hmm, sounds like a divided crowd...

I am an engineer, so I need data, or at least credentials with opinions. My gut tells me the joint will be fine with fresh moly grease and a nice rubber boot, at least for another few months. I really only want to get by until spring when it's warm.

 

buy a remanufactured unit it is more work to pull it, clean it and install a new boot, and when a reman is that cheep how much is your time worth?


i had a master ASE cert back in the 80's let it lasp because didn't need it to pull water samples.

life begins when the kids leave home and the dog dies

 

Second that. You have to pull it to work on it and then MAYBE it won't get worse or fail before spring when you would have to, TA-DAH, pull it again.

On the other hand, the towing business has been a little slow............

My credentials: I own and operate a towing business that, among other things, tows people every day who either neglected preventive maintenance or ignored warning signs.

 

I have a '95 altima and my transmission guy towed it and put in a new CV shaft for $200 out the door. I have always heard put in a new shaft if a boot tears--no sense paying for a boot when a new shaft has one on it and replacement is not that much more $$.

Is it tough to replace yourself? I've never tried workin' on the CV components.

 

My motto is "pay me now:PAY ME LATER!" It is NOT going to get better with time, and when it fails it will ALWAYS be at the WORST TIME!

If a person is mechanically inclined and has tools, the cv half shaft can be done fairly easily(depending on the vehicle). Patience and care are key ingredients.