Question re torn axle boots

[jjanari]

to clarify, you are actually just getting the torn boots replaced, not the CV axles. the parts costs are relatively minimal, i.e. less than a $100.00. however, it's a somewhat labor intensive process for a DIYer w/o a lift. in short, $400.00 to replace all your boots, if I read correctly, is a very good price.

finally, I would not drive w/torn boots. once you start hearing noise from the axle, I think you've likely hit the point of no return, so I wouldn't rely upon that. the purpose of the boot is to keep debris, i.e. dirt, from entering into the axle.

-jimmy

[Kirk]

Replace the axles for $400?!?!??!

Seems fishy to me. The axles from Porsche are $700 each from Pelican Parts:

http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/shopcart/986M/POR_986M_SUSaxl_pg1.htm

Your shop must be putting used parts in there from a salvage yard, that's the only way I can figure they would get that price so low. How long are those CV boots going to last then???

If you check out the Pelican Parts page above you'll also see that boots are pretty cheap. The $1,000 that the dealership quoted you is totally crazy and their claim that it's $500 in parts is a bold faced lie. You can do it yourself. It's relatively easy wrenching, but it does take some time and is a PITA. You'll also need some way to re-torque the axle bolts. The torque wrench is around $500 itself, so make sure you know someone who has one!

Don't drive the car. It sounds like you don't really need to. You just WANT to when going to a car show. Maybe you want to show off a little bit. That's okay, it's natural. But why do something that you know is not good for your car? Just let it sit for a bit until you get the CV boots replaced. Be kind to your Porsche.

Kirk

[Frodo]

Called the guy back just to make sure he was talking about $400 for the total quote, or did he mean $400 per side. Nope, he said it was for the whole shebang. Axles were something like $170 apiece.

I asked him if they were new, rebuilt, salvage yard, whatever. He assured me that they were new. Procured by a company named "FEQ". Anybody ever heard of them? Said there's like 5 of them in California, also some in PA, GA, OH and elsewhere.

Am I ill-advised to put "FEQ" axles in my Boxster?

He said he's put quite a few into Porsches, has had good luck with 'em.

[timothy]

Originally Posted by Frodo

Am I ill-advised to put "FEQ" axles in my Boxster?

He said he's put quite a few into Porsches, has had good luck with 'em.

Google of feq axles returns a number of complaints about quality being hit or miss across a wide range of vehicles. I certainly would not want an axle breaking under load in a high speed corner!

[JackG]

His math doesn't add up.

$400 for two new axles, installed.
$170 each for the axles x 2 = $340
That leaves $60 for labor. ???

$525 for four new boots on your axles.
Let's say $100 for boots
That leaves $425 for labor.

Pulling and re-installing the axles is 90% of the job, and you have to do that for both options.
Disassembling the axles, cleaning the CV joints, and re-assembling with new boots may take an additional 1 - 1.5 hours. (I've done it, I did the DIY writeup)
This guy must really hate cleaning CV joints, or is getting the new axles for free.

Having said all that, $525 for the boot job isn't really that bad. If you won't, or can't, do it yourself, that's what I'd do.

[Frodo]

Quote: "His math doesn't add up."

Posted by JackG.


Yeah, I thought of that.

I hate to sound cynical, but do you suppose he's planning on keeping the OEM axles, repacking them and then reselling them??

[Kirk]

Originally Posted by Frodo

Quote: "His math doesn't add up."

Posted by JackG.


Yeah, I thought of that.

I hate to sound cynical, but do you suppose he's planning on keeping the OEM axles, repacking them and then reselling them??

Yeah, I'm doing the same math and coming up with the same questions. Like I said, something seems a little fishy. I checked out Vertex Auto last night and the rebuilt axles were somewhere around $200 each. $400 just doesn't make sense as there is some labor involved in this job. I think the old rule that applies here is "if it seems too good to be true, it probably is".

Kirk