Can I clamp this CV boot to the axle?

[ElSabio182]

Gents,

Fingers crossed this will be an easy answer...I saw lovely surprise on my rear axle yesterday while in a helluva rush, and didn't have time to properly "get into" this. Hope ya'll can set me straight before I get the car in the air this weekend.

Long story short: can this be addressed with 10 minutes of labor and a $2 ring clamp...or is this a "replace the rear axle" situation? Never really dealt with these before, so I'm not sure if it's a true rip in the boot, or if the clip just fell off.

Thanks!

[Bordom]

If that's an OEM axle, it's not supposed to have a clamp because it's a pressure fit boot. The boot will stretch over the axle.

I don't think a clamp will help, but it's only $2, so why not try?

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[Seerlah]

-Find out what cv grease was used (most likely standard stuff).
-Undo the larger clamp.
-Slide boot back
-Wipe old grease out. It most likely has dirt in it (wipe shaft first, because you will slide boot back).
-Repack with new grease
-Reclamp both ends of boot (you can use the one time use clamps or undo worm clamps and put back together around boot. of too much excess clamp left, try and cut it off and make it so the edges are not sharp anymore. trick: place liquid electric tape onto it or wrap with electric tape on sharp edges).
-I'll send my bill in the mail
-Profit

Easy way to do it. CV joint is not ruined till you hear clicking...or in my case shattered into pieces and left me stranded. Basically, clean and repack while still on car.

[ElSabio182]

Yep, OEM axle. Fuck. I was hoping it was a natural seam in the rubber.

Seerlah, I'm not sure if I want to dick around with cleaning/repacking grease if I'm just going end up jerry-rigging a torn boot at the end of the day. Seems like a dirty as hell job, and I'm guessing my dumbass will rip the rubber boot further in the process. But I'll think about it. Appreciate your advice.

I might just end up clamping it and keeping my fingers crossed until I hear some clicking. I've got a biiiig long list of shit I wanted to do in the next month before the snow tires go on, and this was NOT in the time-budget.

Is Raxles still the preferred vendor for this? (Assuming conventional wisdom is still to replace the axle instead of installing a new boot)

[ElSabio182]

Just talked to Raxles. Replacement rear axles are $299

I guess replacing just the boot might not be such an unthinkable option.

[Seerlah]

I'm a big fan of ebay oem used. One axle I have on the car was picked up for $55 shipped and years running without issue.

[DoesntCare]

You can also buy complete boots to put on so you can repack the joint AND replace the failed boot.

If you have an OEM axle that is not clicking I STRONGLY suggest you rebuild and seal it before you start getting clicks. While people have had luck with replacement axles, generally anything off the shelf will not be anywhere near as reliable as the OEM parts.

[ElSabio182]

You can also buy complete boots to put on so you can repack the joint AND replace the failed boot.

If you have an OEM axle that is not clicking I STRONGLY suggest you rebuild and seal it before you start getting clicks. While people have had luck with replacement axles, generally anything off the shelf will not be anywhere near as reliable as the OEM parts.

Yeah, replacing the boot wasn't an appealing option if I could just easily get a rebuilt OEM axle for cheap. But since the "easily and cheap" part is off the table...looks like I might be getting dirty on a 40-degree day in my landlord's driveway. I agree that of extending my OEM CV joint before it goes to hell is the best course.

But looking into this option has me confused...
Here's what I'd need from ECS: an outer rear CV joint boot kit: https://www.ecstuning.com/Audi-B5_A4...1.8T/ES424846/



Side by side, it doesn't look like my current boot is ripped. Just looks like it's missing whatever seals it to the axle, which appears to be a separate piece? From previous comments, I thought it was all one big piece of rubber that stretched down the length of the axle...but that doesn't appear to be the case. Looks like a "ring seal" failed? Can anyone clarify?

[Bordom]

It is one piece. The boot will stretch over the axle and maintain itself there. Try the hose clamp and see if it moves.

I'd be more concerned with how it got off though

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[ElSabio182]

It is one piece. The boot will stretch over the axle and maintain itself there. Try the hose clamp and see if it moves.

I'd be more concerned with how it got off though

Everything graciously mispelled by Android

Right, it just grips the axle by itself...so what, mine just loosened up like a sphincter after a gang-bang? Why/how?

It does make me think that the hose clamp idea might have some merit...

(Bordom, I had thought from your previous comment that the boot was connected to a long rubber sleeve that extended down the length of the axle, that's what I meant by "one big piece of rubber". I see what you mean now)

[Bordom]

Right, it just grips the axle by itself...so what, mine just loosened up like a sphincter after a gang-bang? Why/how?

It does make me think that the hose clamp idea might have some merit...

(Bordom, I had thought from your previous comment that the boot was connected to a long rubber sleeve that extended down the length of the axle, that's what I meant by "one big piece of rubber". I see what you mean now)

Lol great analogy.

I find it strange it would just do that. Most fail by ripping or having an object come and screw the boot. Did you hit anything or do any work that would pull the outer joint that far,

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[Seerlah]

You need to see how much grease you lost. All that residue, little chunk on coilover, and imagine what else that had nothing to stock to. I would not just clamp it and call it a day.

[MetalMan]

One of my rear CV boots is showing similar symptoms. It hasn't lost a ton of grease, just a little here-and-there. But it does seem to be stretching at that end and eventually will require replacement.

[ElSabio182]

Lol great analogy.

I find it strange it would just do that. Most fail by ripping or having an object come and screw the boot. Did you hit anything or do any work that would pull the outer joint that far,

Everything graciously mispelled by Android

Coilovers were professionally installed this spring....? But I don't see how anything could've caused the rubber to loosen like that. Maybe it's just getting loose with age (there's a "your mom" joke in there for sure).

You need to see how much grease you lost. All that residue, little chunk on coilover, and imagine what else that had nothing to stock to. I would not just clamp it and call it a day.

Ah crap, you're probably right. It looks pretty accessible without dissembling the surrounding area, so it sounds palatable enough (in theory). But these are the jobs that always end up biting me in the ass. I do NOT like my odds of snipping the clamp, cleaning, and then re-stretching a 15-year-old rubber boot in 40-degree weather without ripping it.

Great suggestion about wrapping the hose clamps with electric tape, I'll do that for sure. If you know of any videos/writeups that show any other best-practices for this, they'd be appreciated.

[ProfileTrader]

That piece you have pointed to is inside near the joint itself. It cannot be replace without taking the joint off the axle.

[ElSabio182]

Yup, understood.

The plan is to follow Seerlah's suggestion of wiping out the old grease and surface as best I can, and then putting in a bunch of new grease (80 grams of liquid Moly). I'm looking into the appropriate size and style clips at the moment...worm clips are making me nervous I'll rip the boot, so I'll probably end up with a strap clamp or a oetiker clamp (which requires the crimper tool).

I hope to address the issue this weekend, weather permitting. Will keep you posted and take pics if shit isn't too messy.

Also...Seerlah changed his profile picture for the first time in YEARS (used to be that extended-cab red limo thing) and it's freaking me out.

[ElSabio182]

Also, for anyone curious now or searching in the future...here's a guy who posted a pic showing the exact situation I ran into (and MetalMan describing). It seems like this is officially "a thing that occasionally happens for unknown reasons"...

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...y-bad-cv-boot?

[andyrew]

I agree, Regrease and clamp.

FYI Most cars run with torn boots for a LONG time.. Personally I ran with a torn rear boot for about a year before I eventually replaced it since I was working on it... If you dont hear clicking it'll keep on going....

[ProfileTrader]

I did my boots (and tie rod steering rack boot) and a couple clamps sent to me did not fit. It took me weeks to find them (oetiker style) and online minimum number to order is usually 100. I did find this place (closer to you) https://www.belmetric.com/oetiker-ea...izes-c-15_841/ and I did find a couple at Fastenal locallly after much trouble. Both places sold me a few clamps. I am still waiting for a large inner boot clamp that did not fit in the kit (GKN oem) that was sent me.

[seanf86]

I just ziptie them when they start to weep grease like that, it saves over thinking things.

[ElSabio182]

I did my boots (and tie rod steering rack boot) and a couple clamps sent to me did not fit. It took me weeks to find them (oetiker style) and online minimum number to order is usually 100. I did find this place (closer to you) https://www.belmetric.com/oetiker-ea...izes-c-15_841/ and I did find a couple at Fastenal locallly after much trouble. Both places sold me a few clamps. I am still waiting for a large inner boot clamp that did not fit in the kit (GKN oem) that was sent me.

Yeah, there's a Fastenall near me (I was able to get stainless steel pinch bolts through them, which are the tiiiiits). That's where I'll head when Autozone and Harbor Freight (predictably) don't have what I need.

You don't happen to recall the clamp sizes required for the CV boot, do you? (big one near the wheel, and one that would fit over the axle?)

And in a pinch...yeah, I'll ziptie it and deal with it later. But I don't see zipties as a long-term solution for this. I'd rather get a proper clamp on it.

[rodgertherabit]

you can get aftermarket axles for around $80 with lifetime warranties. Try advance auto, rock auto, oreillys, and the like.

rebuilding them is worth it if you have the beefier axle shafts, otherwise its so much easier to just swap in a whole brand new unit/assembly.

I just redid my inner and outer front boots. Not hard, but very messy

[ElSabio182]

Yeah, if worst comes to worst and the CV joint goes, I'd be looking for a full axle replacement. Not sure how I feel about aftermarket axles, haven't done much research on them.

But we're not there yet.

[Bordom]

Yeah, if worst comes to worst and the CV joint goes, I'd be looking for a full axle replacement. Not sure how I feel about aftermarket axles, haven't done much research on them.

But we're not there yet.

Don't get FEQ axles for the rear if you're lowered. The outer boot will run against the sway bar end link and eventually wear through.

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[ProfileTrader]

I think my car is different than yours - but if you can measure the diameter (either with a caliper or take a string and measure the circumference and work backwards) then go here http://www.oetiker.com/~/media/Downl...20%20167EN.pdf and here http://www.oetiker.com/~/media/Downl...20163ENUSL.pdf Look at either the 167 or 163 series group depending on the size. Make sure they can be opened and fit around the axles to put on. Then you will have the part number. For the outer I (smaller one) I used the 16700040 or 16700042. I am still waiting for my shipment of the front inner large one which was 16700090 or 16300034. The big one near the tire (outer) in the front was larger than the inner - but I didn't need it since the kit had one that fit. My large front inner clamp did not fit so I had to find one.

[ElSabio182]

The inside grease looked pretty clean. The inner lip of the boot was covered with rust embedded into the rubber...spent most of my time trying to wipe off the inner lip, so I got most of the existing grease out in the process...but I didn't make a huge point to clean all the old grease from the joint itself.





Packed in an 80g tube of Liquid Moly, mostly into the joint. Plenty of it is still in my finger nails.

Protip: the width of boot clamp you need to use is thinner than usual. Standard stuff from Autozone/HDepot won't fit the grooves in the boot. The OEM clamp is 10mm wide.


So that means, you guessed it...rolling with plastic zip ties for the moment. I did have some metal ties, but I couldn't cinch them down tight enough on the boot (I had to daisy-chain two of them together, since they were shorter, so not a great either way)



I obviously don't feel good at all about the zip ties, but I need my DD to get to work, so we're gonna hope for the best these next few days. Calling a dealership service department tomorrow, and might do this in the evening on a Wed/Thurs or something. Fastenal did NOT have the size I needed (they make thin claps, but none wide enough to fit around boot).

It will suuuck if boot lets go with all that fresh grease packed in! Fingers crossed.

[fhopsk]

My rear cv boot just started leaking this exact same way. Did simply repacking and clamping actually work? Or since its a pressure fit boot does the boot need to be replaced?


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[SideMirror]

Try to find the clamps here
https://www.mcmaster.com/products/ea...-style~single/

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