New axles or just boots? Time vs. cost??

[B72011]

While doing the brakes on the car I noticed some stuff I need to take car of coming up. Cracked axle boot and upper control arms. Thinking I need to replace the shocks and struts while I'm in there as well ....hopefully I can just pound it all out in the spring. I may have to do the boots/axles earlier...so my question is...
What's the benefit of just changing out the boot vs new axles? How much am I gonna save by getting greasy and cleaning her up and installing new boots vs. just replacing the entire axle. I'm going to do both sides.
A boot kit per side is what like $40-50.....a new axle from Napa or Raxles?
Pros and cons? Am I gonna save more that $50 w the boot route or is the time worth more and just go new axles?

[Charles.waite]

A new axle from Raxles (pretty much what everyone recommends to go with) will cost around $300 I think. A new boot is $30 (go OEM, some of the Aftermarket boots are hard plastic and tend to crack or tear quickly I've heard). A new boot requires a bit more effort, but mostly its just a messy job and you need a decently clean workspace. If your axle boot is torn, but you don't hear any clicking from the axle you are probably fine re-booting it. If you wait till the spring on a torn boot its highly likely you'll destroy the CV joint and need a new axle anyway.

When I got my brothers Saab rebooted by a shop, the cost was $300-ish for a new boot and around $400 for a new axle. The difference was all in the labor.

[swoardrider]

When I got my brothers Saab rebooted by a shop, the cost was $300-ish for a new boot and around $400 for a new axle. The difference was all in the labor.

I just had this done, and it's exactly what you said. The labor involved to pull apart the cv joint is so expensive, it's easier to just buy the new axle. That way you know you won't have to replace that axle 20k miles down the road if the cv joint goes. $100 piece of mind

[Jhad]

I've thought this through before, and I went with raxles on my last cars. It was easier for me to swap the axle, and they are stronger than stock- important if you're low.

[plokm]

diy http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...ot-Replacement

[pkny]

If your going to change your boot. Do not think twice about getting a OEM replacement.

The aftermarket one from ECS had the following things wrong that ruined my night:
Wrong size CV boot clamp: boot slipped off because it the clamp could not get tight enough
Wrong size spring clip: had to used existing clip

tripod bearing was a bitch to remove, lucky i had a bearing puller handy.

Pinch bolt a BITCH to remove. I am willing to pay a real shop for anything that has to do with the removing that pinch bolt, that is how hard it was to remove.

[B72011]

$30 each per boot then? $120 for all of them vs $300. Yeah....ill rebuild for sure. I do have a decent sized bench to work on. I noticed just a crack with no grease leakage.....guess I will just keep a careful eye on it. Is there any substance you can slather on the boot to keep it sealed for a short time fix......like a silicon or gasket sealer compound that would buy me time to make it a couple months?

As for the pinch bolt...yeah I know it's a bitchK. I'm going to swap struts, upper control arms and axles all at one time...wham, bam, thank ya ma'am.

[ECS Tuning-Audi]

You also have the option to rebuild the CV joint. The axle shaft almost never goes bad unless you snap it. We have overhaul kits for outer CV joints available below.

Click HERE to order or for more information

Let me know if you have any questions

Jason

[Corradobrit]

Made the mistake of rebuilding the front CV's on my A3. 6 months later I hear the ominous crunchy sound. Ended up buying new replacement axles. Not worth the risk IMO if you plan on keeping the car.