Torn CV Boot / Should replace Axle?

[Zyphar]

Well I noticed that there is a hole in my left CV Boot and a bunch of light brownish grease seems to have splattered all over the undercarriage. I have been driving around like that for a little while now but now I am going to get the CV boot replaced. What I'm worried is if the axle will be FUBAR'd a couple hundred miles down the road.

The boot only has a hole and isn't torn up so I don't think the axle will be dirty but I don't know if there is enough grease to keep it from seizing later.

I was planning on taking it to a shop to have it replaced but I don't want them to do it and then tell me the axle needs to be replaced. So do you think? Is it a pain to replace the CV boot?

[Justin35ll]

I've never replaced one on a 240, but I had a torn cv boot on my vw jetta a few months ago, drove around for a month or so. Like yours it was just small tear so not alll the grease came out so it was still lubricated and no dirt came in.

I did it by myself (first time doing it) in my driveway with a floor jack and just standard tools so I'm sure you'll be able to do it yourself. It can be messy though so I sugest getting some rubber gloves haha.

But anyway how long have you been driving with it torn? Does your axle make any loud clunking or scraping sounds? If not then you should be okay to just replace the boot

[OutToWinPAHC]

I vote yes, replace it, or get a 10 dollar junk yard axle if the new one is too much and replace the good boot with a new boot.

[Zyphar]

But anyway how long have you been driving with it torn? Does your axle make any loud clunking or scraping sounds? If not then you should be okay to just replace the boot

the axle doesn't seem to be making any noise right now when driving. I noticed it about a month ago and I have been driving it about 400 miles so far. I don't know when it was first punctured though.

One thing that bugs me is will the wheel need an alignment if I replace the boot or the axle?

[darens13]

ive heard of guys wrapping a plastic bag around the boot then wrapping duct tape around it. it would work until you have the time to fix it.

[slipnfall]

You're fine, really, as long as you replace the boot + repack with grease NOW. Don't wait 'till next oil change, or when it gets warmer, do it ASAP. Pull as much of the old grease out as you can.

No need for a realignment... if you don't touch any alignment/escentric bolts, you're fine.

In all seriousness it's when the boot is ripped in half and you've driven though a NE winter that you should consider replacing it all.

[Justin35ll]

^^What slip said. Get it done as soon as you can.And no need for an alignment

[SirSilvia]

I ordered new boots when I bought new tie rods, found them on ebay for like $10 or here for like $35 +shipping http://www.nissanparts.org/oem_parts.html