Broke my booty! - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

NewArt · 07-24-2015, 07:42 AM

CV joint boots, that is.

After a track day, I noticed that the 2 internal boots were split. The CVs haven't given me any indication that their time is up, and the outer ones had been replaced not too long ago and seem in good shape. So the question is, do I just replace the boots or do I spring for the CV joint kit which comes complete? No need to spend where I don't need to.

hancock1701 · 07-24-2015, 08:35 AM

I think the CV joint gets destroyed when the boot splits and debris gets in and interferes with the grease. It sounds like you caught it early enough, so I don't think debris (if any) has gotten into the joint. I found out my boots were split at 120k, and had no idea how long they had been like that. I did a few tests found online, and there was no indication that the joints were bad either. So I just replaced the boots, and everything is still going fine 20k miles later.

Perfectlap · 07-24-2015, 08:56 AM

That's a big job. You'll probably have a better idea once you're in there unless you don't want the car laid up for another week waiting on that big box from Pelican.

The Radium King · 07-24-2015, 09:22 AM

inners are easy to deal with - info on this forum and pelican. may even be able to keep the axles in the car depending on how tight the inner joint is on the axle. make sure no grease on the bolts when you reattach to the tranny flange!!! whether you replace or just clean the cv is your call - they are not that expensive in the big scheme of things, but yours is probably in fine shape unless you have many hundreds of thousands of kms on it.

track days tend to articulate the suspension a lot more than happens on the street - it was a track day that killed my boots. you only have to deal with that one time before you add an annual cv boot spa treatment to your maintenance list.

Fintro11 · 07-24-2015, 10:54 AM

I usually just change the whole axel easier and quicker!

The Radium King · 07-24-2015, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fintro11

I usually just change the whole axel easier and quicker!

and much less messy. I had a issue with new axles from jobbers (others haven't) but had good luck buying used oem from wreckers.

brewerbry · 07-24-2015, 11:13 AM

I will offer an additional option as I just went through cv joint issues.

To replace the outer cv joint you either have to buy new, which is big bucks for some years (for my 1997 tip, the axles were $850 per side) or have them rebuilt. I went the rebuild route and sent my axles to Vertex in Miami, they refurbished both the inner and outer cv joints for $299 a side (new joints and boots) and I did not have to deal with the dirty / messy cv joint grease.

Pretty simple job, time consuming to remove the axles, but not particularly difficult.

My problems arose after several high stress track days, I also am going to replace the motor mount as that might have contributed to expediting the cv failures.

Good luck-

patssle · 07-24-2015, 02:17 PM

Why send all the way to Miami? Is refurbing the outter cv joint a specialized task or something?

The Radium King · 07-24-2015, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patssle

Why send all the way to Miami? Is refurbing the outter cv joint a specialized task or something?

outer cv is permanently attached to the axle.

patssle · 07-24-2015, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Radium King

outer cv is permanently attached to the axle.

Yeah but he said his was refurbished. How's that possible?

NewArt · 07-24-2015, 04:37 PM

Very tempting since complete after-market axles start at not much more than a boot kit. Except... mine is a tip. It seems that all the replacement axles are aimed at a 6 speed or are not indicated. I believe there is a difference? Ones from Porsche run at about the equivalent value of my car. So, I guess I'll buy a kit or maybe just the boot.