Check your CV boots
 

I noticed a burning smell coming from the rear axle of my 2000 Boxster S, put the car on the jack and noticed 3 out of 4 CV boots are cracked and leaking grease all over the rear. I was told that if this goes unoticed, eventually all the grease will be gone and you'll need a new axle, about a $1K expense. The cost to replace the CV boots is pretty high - dealer quoted me $1K, my independent mechanic quoted me $450 ($100 parts and $350 labor). apparently the labor cost is hight to pull the axles out. Since labor is high my mechanic suggested replacing all 4 while you have the parts disassembled.

Make sure to inspect your CV boots often!

CV boots
 

Will do...thanks.

Read this thread
 

You might want to read this tread, seems like it might not cost you as much as quoted.

I have not replaced mine, but just forwarding the information for you to ponder :)

http://www.986forum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10368&highlight=boot

Good advice with replacing both boots on the axel with one torn boot. It takes awhile to get those suckers apart without hurting them, but once apart both boots just slide on. $350 labor is great since it runs about 4 1/2-6 hours to do it all. $100 for parts is steep so see if they'll let you order the parts and bring them in.

Good luck! :cheers:

Do it yourself
 

I did mine and it cost me 48 bucks! 12 dollars a boot...

The boots are 928 boots, they even have a 928 part number. You can reuse the clamps if you dont destroy them getting them off.

They are messy and if you dont have a manual, i suggest getting one.

But if I could save 1000 bucks by doing it myself .....I WILL!

They are really not hard to do.....Just a little time consuming. I didnt need any special tools except for a bearing puller to get the axle out...and that was easy.

The reason they dont last long is because they are 928 parts!

I just did the inners on my 2000 S. What a pain in the butt!!!

I had the exhaust apart for my PSE install, so it wasn't too bad, but the clamps the dealer gave me were worthless and I made a greasy mess.

I'm hitting my CV boots with silicone spray to keep them soft every oil change, because I don't want to be doing that work again anytime soon.

My experience for all four replaced, 3-4 hours labor, $50 a boot from Porsche. Do it ASAP tho, if any grit or sand gets up into those grease-less CV joints, it'll tear up your bearings and eventually the axle.

Nice car Schnell, I wish I had the beautiful background access you do up there!

-David

would this be the cause of the clicking I'm hearing up front when I turn the steering wheel?

No. The front end doesn't have any drive axles, unless you have an AWD Boxster.

More likely you're hearing a worn out strut bearing, tie rod end or ball joint.

Thanks. :) You don't have buildings where you live?

see thing is I'm not sure if I'm hearing it up front. This car is weird sometimes.

Boots
 

The boots can be bought anywhere....Porsche part....and Cheap if you shop around.

pain in the BUTT, maybe if you are tool challenged. I didnt take my exhaust out and I got them out and back in. But really, it was a simple job. 3 or 4 hours...well it took me longer because of various reasons, but I did it easily in a day.