CV boots - the easy way - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

j.fro · 02-08-2009, 02:41 PM

A couple of years ago I had to replace the CV boots on my 2000 S, so I followed the Porsche/Bentley instructions which say to pop the two ball joints on each side of the rear suspension. Even using the proper tool, it was a pain, and I ended up ripping at least one of the boots on the ball joints. To top it off, with the joints separated, you still really have to muscle things around to get enough clearance to get the splined end out of the hub and pull the half-shaft.
Today, I started doing the same job on another car. After having a look, I decided to drop the catalytic converters and see how much space that gave me. Bingo! the shafts came out, no problem, without ANY suspension disassembly. Less than half the time, less than half the work.
I know the CV boots are an issue on our cars...hope this helps someone else get the job done a little easier.
Cheers

BoxsterLewis · 02-09-2009, 06:44 AM

My car is currently in the shop getting a 3.6 in it and the CV boots are torn. I did notice the car was a tiny bit difficult to turn at low speeds, would that have caused it you think?

Kirk · 02-09-2009, 08:10 AM

I'm doing a CV boot replacement right now. The passenger's side rear was torn. I've read that the passenger's side is easier to do than the driver's side. I also didn't take any of the suspension apart, but I also didn't drop the cats (Boxster 2000 S). I dropped the two aluminum braces that are a part of the rear sub-frame and I dropped the aluminum stress plate. This gave me enough clearance to drop the axle below the transmission as I pulled/pushed it out of the hub. No problems... Now I haven't put it back in yet though, so I'm not sure if that's still relatively easy or not.

Kirk

j.fro · 02-09-2009, 12:17 PM

Wow! That's great that you were able to get the half-shaft out without any more dissassembly than that. Both my own car and the one I'm working on now didn't have enough room.

JackG · 02-09-2009, 04:49 PM

It's an angle of attack thing... jacking up the wheel carrier gives you more room and a better angle to get the axle past the diff and in / out of the car. Otherwise it will hit the diff and will not come out easily.

j.fro · 02-10-2009, 01:38 AM

Ahhh...there's the difference. I didn't jack up the wheel carrier.

JackG · 02-09-2009, 08:04 AM

Yup, j.fro... it can actually be done by just loosening and dropping the exhaust down on the driver's side. I did a writeup on this forum a couple of years ago. I didn't have the special ball joint tool, and another forum member had just done his in his garage. He pointed me in the right direction. Pulling both cats would certainly give you plenty of room.