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It’s possible, but it would be time-effective to take the axle out of the car completely. With the axle still in the car, your ability to place the new boot properly and tighten the band tightly is encumbered, thus making the task frustrating.
The big issue is the challenge of removing the large nut that retains the shaft in the bearing. It is torqued to 1.5 zillion foot pounds and so requires 3/4” or even 1” drive tools. I use a 3/4” drive socket, a 3/4” - 1” adapter, and a 5 foot long 1” breaker bar to loosen the nut. The torque you apply will risk knocking the car off the Jack stands, so it is best to do it through the wheel’s center bore with the car fully on the ground. This means picking up the corner with your Jack just so you can take off that wheel just to knock out the plastic cap, then put the wheel back on, lower it to the ground, and then finally attack the nut. It is a little bit repetitive, but then you can have your axle out completely to do a better, and less inconvenient job, on the outer boot - and the inner one for that matter. You do, of course, fit a new boot to the inside joint instead of putting the old boot back on.
Hmm…wonder if I can find a 1” air wrench cheap…
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Hybrid Mode
