cv boot replacement

[bobaachaar]

Has anyone replaced the cv boots on their axles? Specifically the 986s 6 speed ones. I've got a torn boot on the passenger inboard side and need to replace it. Do you need to take the axle out to replace the boot? Also I'm planning on taking the joint out and cleaning it before repacking it and putting it back in. How hard is that to do with the axle in the car?

This is the largest DIY I will have attempted up until now, so any help is welcome.

[bobaachaar]

Also question about the boots themselves. I know the axles aren't interchangeable, but are the boots, clips, etc?

[78F350]

The forum sponsor, Pelican Parts has a good collection of tech articles. Here's the one for the CV boots:
https://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/Boxster_Tech/41-TRANS-CV_Joint_-_Boots/41-TRANS-CV_Joint_-_Boots.htm

One of the hazards from this job is the bolts coming out. Be sure to use Loctite (Blue) and the proper torque: Boxster S 81 NM/60 Ftlb

I'm 99.7% certain that the boots are the same...

[bobaachaar]

that's actually a big reason for why i'm confused. it seems like you don't have to take off the axle from that article, but i'm not sure

[Frodo]

Originally Posted by 78F350

I'm 99.7% certain that the boots are the same...

I'm 99.7% certain that he's right about that.

My son & I did all 4 boots, servicing both axles. This was Fall, 2021, so details are a little fuzzy for me. As I recall, only 1 or 2 of the boots had tears, but even the ones that didn't looked dry and, as you manipulated the rubber, they had these little micro-cracks visible in them. So we decided to do all of them at once. And I don't recall having to keep straight "inner boot" vs "outer boot" when we went to replace them, ie I think they're identical.

If you were just removing and repacking one of the inner joints and replacing that boot only, I suppose theoretically you could do it without pulling the whole axle. But I think it would be kind of a PITA, especially if you're taking apart the joint to clean up the bearings (which is what we did). I thought that would be true even working with it on a lift—if you happened to be working on a car on jack stands it obviously would be even tougher. Much easier to do a good job cleaning it up, repacking, and replacing the boot with the axle off and away from the car. It wasn't horrible getting them out, but I had my kid helping me, and he's pretty good at this kind of thing. As I recall, we did have to unbolt parts of the exhaust to be able to fiddle one or the other of the axles out. It's also much easier getting the axle reinstalled with a helper. In fact I think it'd be pretty damn difficult to do solo.

[tcoradeschi]

I just had mine done as a "while you're in there" while the clutch was being replaced (did the IMS, too).

All 4 boots are identical, all 4 small clamps and all 4 large clamps as well.

I can't imagine this to be something you can do while the axle is in the car. More to the point, if one boot is tired, so are the other three.

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by bobaachaar

Has anyone replaced the cv boots on their axles? Specifically the 986s 6 speed ones. I've got a torn boot on the passenger inboard side and need to replace it. Do you need to take the axle out to replace the boot? Also I'm planning on taking the joint out and cleaning it before repacking it and putting it back in. How hard is that to do with the axle in the car?

This is the largest DIY I will have attempted up until now, so any help is welcome.

Nearly impossible to do with the shafts in the car.

[bobaachaar]

yikes. most of this job is going to be solo, so that might be a problem. i've also ordered the parts. looks like pelican parts has two different part numbers for the inboard and outboard boots, and the outboard ones are 3x as expensive. yikes

[Frodo]

Originally Posted by bobaachaar

yikes. most of this job is going to be solo, so that might be a problem. i've also ordered the parts. looks like pelican parts has two different part numbers for the inboard and outboard boots, and the outboard ones are 3x as expensive. yikes

The Pelican Parts page for genuine Porsche boots...

https://www.pelicanparts.com/More_Info/92833229302.htm?pn=928-332-293-02-OEM&bc=c&SVSVSI=0785&ByPassCat=Y

Note that it indicates:

Automatic Transmission;
Manual Transmission. Fits rear left outer, rear left inner, rear right inner, rear right outer, left or right rear outer of vehicle.

[bobaachaar]

Originally Posted by Frodo

The Pelican Parts page for genuine Porsche boots...

https://www.pelicanparts.com/More_Info/92833229302.htm?pn=928-332-293-02-OEM&bc=c&SVSVSI=0785&ByPassCat=Y

Note that it indicates:

Automatic Transmission;
Manual Transmission. Fits rear left outer, rear left inner, rear right inner, rear right outer, left or right rear outer of vehicle.

this is what i got:

https://www.pelicanparts.com/More_Info/101P986P041D.htm?pn=101P-986-P041D&bc=c&SVSVSI=0791

i didn’t get the rein ones though, i got gkn for the -02 and porsche for the -00

[Luckyman01]

The only real challenge is the torque on the axle nuts.

I was able to do this in the garage on jack stands. If execution time does not matter, go for it.

David

[bobaachaar]

Originally Posted by Luckyman01

The only real challenge is the torque on the axle nuts.

I was able to do this in the garage on jack stands. If execution time does not matter, go for it.

David

good to know. how long did it take you for both axles? and you don’t think that dropping the exhaust to get the axle out was too much of a challenge? that’s the part i’m most worried about

[Wret]

I've replaced mine before with split boots but it wasn't easy. Since then I've changed axles several times and come to the opinion that it's better to replace the whole axle. I've also don't freak out if I see a split. I just replaced one that had had a split boot for months with no ill effects.

[bobaachaar]

Originally Posted by Wret

I've replaced mine before with split boots but it wasn't easy. Since then I've changed axles several times and come to the opinion that it's better to replace the whole axle. I've also don't freak out if I see a split. I just replaced one that had had a split boot for months with no ill effects.

i’m sure it could be fine, but it could also get dirt and crap in the joint because of the split. that makes it an extra 350 bucks and a rebuilt joint. i think better to just replace the boots while i caught them early.

i’ll post some pictures of the job.

[pilot4fn]

If you take the axles out (not a difficult to do), it is very easy to clean old grease out from axle joints, put new grease in and also all 4 new boots. Just did this on the 5-speed tranny 2001 Boxster.

[bobaachaar]

Originally Posted by pilot4fn

If you take the axles out (not a difficult to do), it is very easy to clean old grease out from axle joints, put new grease in and also all 4 new boots. Just did this on the 5-speed tranny 2001 Boxster.

i’m in the middle of taking the axles out right now. i’ve managed to get the axle pounded out of the hub, but i can’t drop the exhaust because one of the bolts on the flange is rusted and rounded. what should i do?

[Frodo]

Originally Posted by Wret

I've replaced mine before with split boots but it wasn't easy. Since then I've changed axles several times and come to the opinion that it's better to replace the whole axle. I've also don't freak out if I see a split. I just replaced one that had had a split boot for months with no ill effects.

Who made the axles you put in? The Porsche ones are ridiculously pricey, and I've heard some of the others are pretty hit or miss as far as quality.

The axles are (I'm pretty sure—bought the car second hand with 19K miles on it) the originals. The joints were just cleaned up and repacked (admittedly kind of a messy job) and they're still going strong. If the Porsche ones were even somewhat more reasonably priced I'd totally agree with you.

[bobaachaar]

Originally Posted by Frodo

Who made the axles you put in? The Porsche ones are ridiculously pricey, and I've heard some of the others are pretty hit or miss as far as quality.

The axles are (I'm pretty sure—bought the car second hand with 19K miles on it) the originals. The joints were just cleaned up and repacked (admittedly kind of a messy job) and they're still going strong. If the Porsche ones were even somewhat more reasonably priced I'd totally agree with you.

I looked at replacing the whole axle but it would have been nearly $1500 for both axles. instead, i bought about $200 worth of parts, and about $800 worth of tools to replace just the boots.

side note, pelican parts sells a kit, but the kit isn't actually a kit. it's a bunch of different parts that are grouped together, and one of the cv boots that they sell made by GKN comes with clamps and grease. this is all to say that i bought the kit and ended up with about $50 worth of grease and clamps that i didn't need because they didn't specify that the parts in the "kit" came with the grease and clamps.

[elgyqc]

Power hacksaw or grinder. When you put it back together use stainless steel nuts and bolts. You'll thank yourself next time around.