aerosol cleaner for CV joints

[livehho]

I just discovered that three of the front axle CV joint boots are messed up. I went and rubbed the remaining grease inside the damaged boots and feels gritty, meaning the joints are contaminated. I'm replacing all four boots but before applying the new grease and boots I would like to clean the joints without having to disassemble the whole thing. I hear there are some aerosol solvents for cleaning cv joints and was looking in the internet but couldn't find much. What about using Break Cleaner or Contact Cleaner???? can I use a regular Degreaser? just making sure before screwing things up

 

[TrentMiller]

I would def hit it with a de-greaser and pressure washer if you can, or just de-greaser and a hot rag if you cant, then follow it with compressed air/and or break cleaner.

90% of the [censored] we clean at the shop is done this way, injectors, heads, blocks, you name it. Although we usually use bio diesel in a solvent tank.

 

[mechtech2]

Brake cleaner would be my first choice.
It will dry fast without a perceptible residue.

But how are yo going to put on new boots without removing the axles?
Are you contemplating those aftermarket side open type? Good luck.
Consider 2 rebuilt axles. New grease, boots, and fixed C/V internals.
They are surprisingly affordable.

 

[artificialist]

Originally Posted By: mechtech2
Brake cleaner would be my first choice.
It will dry fast without a perceptible residue.

But how are yo going to put on new boots without removing the axles?
Are you contemplating those aftermarket side open type? Good luck.
Consider 2 rebuilt axles. New grease, boots, and fixed C/V internals.
They are surprisingly affordable.

Also consider that 100% new halfshafts usually don't cost much more than rebuilt ones.

This is ideal if your are dealing with a car where halfshafts are weak in the OE design.

 

[JohnBrowning]

I would use B12 chemtool in pint can as it is the most powerful version. Use a parts cleaner brush and a bucket. It will evaperate. I would use the MOPAR green HP Police Inceptor Grease or I would use a nice Moly EP grease from a decent company. I have had Moly EP grease hold up just as well as Krytex in real world applications on CV joints and tripod joints. The important thing is to go with a good name brand. The Moly EP almost eliminates wear. I had wheel bearing that where 17 years old and still spec.'ed out as new but I greased them not less then once every two years. For a sealed system like CV joints baring any excessive wear from dirt that has already happened moly EP grease is the best way to go for bang for your buck. I would still go witht he Mopar HD Police Grease if they have it in stock at your local 5 star dealership but if not Moly EP all the way.

 

[JohnBrowning]

When it comes to half shafts I normaly prefer the rebuilt remanufactured ones over new. First the remans are OEM shafts that have been remanufactured and usualy the OEM use's a better grade of steel and better heat treat then the Chinese made new ones. The reman are brought up to the most current design so any weak area's are addressed so the reman is usually a better part then the original part that came on the car. I almost always find that a reman'ed part using OEM base parts is better then "brand new" part because most of the brand new stuff is Chinese stuff and they change what ever they want to in order to get the price point they want.THis is true of starters, alternators,brake master cylinders etc......

 

[cronk]

If the joints are already contaminated, you should at least take them off the car, clean the joints thoroughly, repack with grease and reinstall. I would stay away from the split type cv boots, they are a bad product and do not hold up well. In 6 months they will be coming apart and you will be doing this again.
I just did Cv axles on my wife's Nissan Quest van, I had torn boots on both outer joints, By the time you buy 4 boot kits, it was almost as cheap to buy reman axles.
I ended up buying reman's from www.raxles.com
They cost a little more but are very high quality, when you call you speak to Marty (the owner)! The super customer service was refreshing as well!

 

[livehho]

thanks all