CV joint repair -- how much?

[Rob1066]

Just noticed tonight that one of my front CV joint boots has a tear.
Gear head friend said fixing such usually means replacing it on both
wheels and that the whole joint gets replaced. Has anoyone had this
done? If if so, how much did it cost? He said it would be about $400,
unless I brought it to Subaru where it would be about $1,000. Car is a
1999 Forester, 106K.

 

[ujduche]

Rather than replace the CV boot, you can buy a remanufactured axle assembly
for around $150 plus a core charge. That's what I paid for a WRX Impreza
axle assy (probably the same PN as a Forester), but you have to give them
the old one to get the core charge back. This includes both inner and outer
CV joints, boots and axle pre-assembled. Probably an hour or two of labor
for a mechanic who knows what he's doing, but not really an easy DIY job.

I don't think you have to replace both at the same time, but I'm not a
mechanic. Both of my front inner CV joints were failing, so I replaced both
of them anyway.

 

[hippo]

Just noticed tonight that one of my front CV joint boots has a tear.
Gear head friend said fixing such usually means replacing it on both
wheels and that the whole joint gets replaced. Has anoyone had this
done? If if so, how much did it cost? He said it would be about $400,
unless I brought it to Subaru where it would be about $1,000. Car is a
1999 Forester, 106K.

There are two boots on each side, only one of the four is torn is torn, so
why would you need to touch the other side? Typical cost in Oz is
$A100-$150 to r&r one boot, $650 or $900 for dealer to r&r one reman or
new CV respectively and maybe 2/3 that price elsewhere... but I just got a
reman shaft & inner joint with a new outer joint fitted for $154 all up (15
mins labour) with 2 yr warranty. Not bad. Might pay to shop around. Cheers

 

[AS]

IF the joint is not noisy and if you are mechanically inclinded, what
about replacing just the boots after marking all relative positions,
washing in mineral spirits, drying the parts, greasing and replacing the
boots? Each boot kit with boot, clamps and the grease needed is about
40 bucks?

In case you decide to go this route, remember to put about 40 grams of
the grease inside the crevices in the boot itself, yes the rubber needs
to be lubricated.

Seating the rubber boot on the axle with a rubber (wood) mallet, before
closing the clamp is importarnt, otherwise the clamp may break.

 

[Jim Stewart]

Just noticed tonight that one of my front CV joint boots has a tear.
Gear head friend said fixing such usually means replacing it on both
wheels and that the whole joint gets replaced. Has anoyone had this
done? If if so, how much did it cost? He said it would be about $400,
unless I brought it to Subaru where it would be about $1,000. Car is a
1999 Forester, 106K.

A reman halfshaft only costs 50-75 USD. Mechanics
time is 80/hr USD. Figure $150-$200 per side with a
independent shop. I'd only fix the side that's broke.

 

[Limey Lurker]

Seating the rubber boot on the axle with a rubber (wood) mallet, before
closing the clamp is importarnt, otherwise the clamp may break.

WHAT?

 

[alf]

Just noticed tonight that one of my front CV joint boots has a tear.
Gear head friend said fixing such usually means replacing it on both
wheels and that the whole joint gets replaced. Has anoyone had this
done? If if so, how much did it cost? He said it would be about $400,
unless I brought it to Subaru where it would be about $1,000. Car is a
1999 Forester, 106K.

I paid recently $60 for reman of halfaxle/shaft and about $50 or so for
the swap itself. I can recommend a shop in Chicago rebuilding that stuff.


A.

 

[Hachiroku $B%O%A%m%/(B]

reman shaft & inner joint with a new outer joint fitted for $154 all up
(15 mins labour) with 2 yr warranty. Not bad. Might pay to shop around.
Cheers

15 mins labour?!?! Did you do it yourself?

Now, I saw a guy replace the shaft on my AWD Tercel in about 20 minutes.
Piece of cake! So, when I decided to do my Mazda 626, NINE HOURS!!!

Then, the next day, I heard the OTHER axle clicking. This one went better,
only 2.5 hours!!! (it took TWO HOURS on the first one just to get the axle
nut off!!!)

 

[AS]

In some cases, if you try to close the clamp that holds the boot in
place, without having seated the boot it in its groove properly, the
clamp will just snap.

 

[hippo]

15 mins labour?!?! Did you do it yourself?

No - mine would havew been closer to the 9 hrs! Left it there and went to
shops for a quick coffee. Came back and all done. 3000Km up since with no
concerns. Probably a bit impractical to ship your car all the way to
Granville NSW though

 

[Rob1066]

No - mine would havew been closer to the 9 hrs! Left it there and went to
shops for a quick coffee. Came back and all done. 3000Km up since with no
concerns. Probably a bit impractical to ship your car all the way to
Granville NSW though

OK, we're going in tomorrow. Shop guy if they need to replace the
axle, it's a $250 job. That sounds reasonable. If the joint is in good
shape, then obviously less.

 

[nobody >]

OK, we're going in tomorrow. Shop guy if they need to replace the
axle, it's a $250 job. That sounds reasonable. If the joint is in good
shape, then obviously less.

Prices vary. Here in Seattle, a shop I trust wants a flat $169 for each
side with reman axles from NAPA. I've seen readerboards with prices as
low as $89, but I'd be a little leery about those.