CV Boot replacement

[ploutos]

Yesterday my cv boot ripped open and splattered its grease all over the
exhaust manifold and engine. My questions are:

How much is reasonable for someone to charge to replace/repack the
boot.
How should I clean this stuff off. It stinks!

Thanks!

 

[Voja]

I had the same problem and it was taken care of by the dealer (under
warranty) as it is known problem on Outback/Legacy (I guess Forester as
well) models.

From this web site: http://www.toad.net/~rrubel/bulletin.html#Anchor30816

_Too-thin CV-joint grease. This is *NOT* a recall, but enough complaints
have occured that I thought I'd mention it. Symptoms are smoke and a
burning smell from under the hood on some 1998 Outbacks and Foresters.
The cause is improper DOJ (CV joint...) grease, which is too thin and
melts at lower-than-desired temperatures, leaking onto the exhaust and
vaporizing. Subaru will fix this under warranty, and it is not a safety
issue, though driving your CV joints dry will destroy them._


Good luck,
Voja

 

[Frank Logullo]

Yesterday my cv boot ripped open and splattered its grease all over the
exhaust manifold and engine. My questions are:

How much is reasonable for someone to charge to replace/repack the
boot.
How should I clean this stuff off. It stinks!

Happened on my '98 Forester. It was fixed under drivetrain warranty. I
recall asking how much it would have cost otherwise and I believe they said
only about $50.
Frank

 

[Mickey]

Happened on my '98 Forester. It was fixed under drivetrain warranty. I
recall asking how much it would have cost otherwise and I believe they said
only about $50.
Frank

That's a cheap price if in fact they'll do it for that. Had a failure
several months ago and as usual did the job myself. The inner boot
was $20 from one of the large chain auto parts stores. Took close to
an hr to repair. Even with experience I would be surprised if the
shop could make the repair in less than 30 mins.

This is a job a home mechanic ca do without and special tools needed.
Requires a large socket, a 1.25" or metric eq and a pair of retainer
ring pliers. The strut has to be removed from the spindle and take
note that the upper bolt used to attach the strut to the spindle is an
eccentric one that is used to adj the camber. Cleaning the old grease
off the parts is the dirty part of the job.

Mickey

 

[ploutos]

Final Result:

Quotes: Subaru Dealer (apparently sniffing glue): $250
2 other shops: $165-$185
My usual mechanic who is totally great and reasonable but I am out of
town: $150

The shop I got to do it: $100

 

[Mickey]

Final Result:

Quotes: Subaru Dealer (apparently sniffing glue): $250
2 other shops: $165-$185
My usual mechanic who is totally great and reasonable but I am out of
town: $150

The shop I got to do it: $100

That sound more like reality. Was the $100 shop replacing the boot or
installing a rebuilt shaft? When getting up to the $200 range I would
expect nothing less than a rebuilt shaft and possibly a new one.
Purchased a rebuilt half shaft for my Nissan a couple yrs ago for <$50.