1998 Civic CV boot torn - re-boot or replace axle

[wing0]

Keep in mind, I'm up north. Car has 145k km on it.

While doing oil change/snow tires change.
I noticed the passenger side outer CV boot is torn. I don't know when it happened.
Here's a picture:



I asked the usual mechanic that I go to, how much to re-boot or replace axle.
He said, it's easier to replace axle and looks to be around $90 for axle and $80 for labour.
It's super busy for him right now due to all the snow tires swaps here so he's not answering my emails in details.
He said, the axle has 1 yr warranty.

I called carquest and they said axle is $195, made by FEQ(First Equipment Quality) with lifetime warranty against defect.
I also looked up Rockauto which shows Surtrack for $75 after tax and shipping, but it has lifetime warranty.
The same Sutrack axle seems to be available at Canadian Tire, but the price is probably double rockauto.

1. Should I find someone that's willing to clean and install new boot on top?
I don't think there's noise coming out of it, but I also don't know how long it's been ripped, but based on all the grease that's out, it's not very recent.

2. Replace with aftermarket axle, but which one? FEQ/Surtrack or maybe I'll call Napa.

Thanks for any input.

 

[The Critic]

1) The boot appears to have been torn for a while so I would advise against re-booting.

2) Honda should have a remanufactured axle program, I would buy from them or pay for a new axle from the dealer. My experience with aftermarket axles, new or re-man, have been extremely poor. For us, all of them start vibrating (to some degree) within a year.

 

[mclasser]

Yeah, it's not worth putting a boot kit on that. OEM axles will be pricey and the aftermarket ones are a c rap shoot.

That being said, I put new Duralast axles on my Accord earlier this year and *knock on wood* they're still fine.

 

[wing0]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
1) The boot appears to have been torn for a while so I would advise against re-booting.

2) Honda should have a remanufactured axle program, I would buy from them or pay for a new axle from the dealer. My experience with aftermarket axles, new or re-man, have been extremely poor. For us, all of them start vibrating (to some degree) within a year.


I see, so I am looking at new axle. I'm not sure if there is a reman axle program here.
A new axle cost $400+ based on a honda dealership that sells parts online.
That's quite steep vs getting these aftermarket for half or even 1/5 the price.

Should I gamble?

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: wing0
Originally Posted By: The Critic
1) The boot appears to have been torn for a while so I would advise against re-booting.

2) Honda should have a remanufactured axle program, I would buy from them or pay for a new axle from the dealer. My experience with aftermarket axles, new or re-man, have been extremely poor. For us, all of them start vibrating (to some degree) within a year.


I see, so I am looking at new axle. I'm not sure if there is a reman axle program here.
A new axle cost $400+ based on a honda dealership that sells parts online.
That's quite steep vs getting these aftermarket for half or even 1/5 the price.

Should I gamble?


If you plan to keep the car and are able to replace the axle yourself, then I would gamble and buy aftermarket. Just make sure it's easy and convenient to get a warranty replacement.

If you plan to keep the car and are not able to replace the axle yourself, buy OE.

If you don't plan to keep the car or you're not picky about a small amount of vibration, then buy aftermarket.

 

[wing0]

Do I still need alignment afterwards. Suspension is double wishbone.

 

[DBMaster]

You should not require an alignment after axle replacement.

 

[Olas]

Why on earth would you replace the driveshaft? Do you replace your wheels when your tyres go bald?

New joint includes new boot and is £20 & one hour.

 

[Lubener]

The aftermarket axles are worst than your original. If no grit has worked inside the joint, I would reboot. If grit is inside, scrap and change the halfshaft. I had a Dodge which was torn at the small end, not as bad as yours and I ran that for five years and had no problems. I did a couple times slide the boot down for some fresh CV lube and reclamped but that was un-needed as little grease was escaping.They go a long time before noise or vibrations set in.

 

[DuckRyder]

Aftermarket axles are almost universally junk, I'd pull it and inspect it but even if it didn't look fantastic I'd put an OEM boot on it before I'd do an aftermarket axle.

Based on what can be seen of the axle in the picture it doesn't look like it is full of dirt and I would bet the joint is fine, or at least serviceable.

 

[JC1]

Call hotspot auto parts if you are in the GTA. you'll get a remanufactured for less that those prices.

Last time I bought an axle for my 97 civic it was less than $100.

 

[Trav]

I never use new or reman aftermarket CV axles, they are a nightmare that never ends, even if the customer says they accept it may vibrate and so on I refuse to install them as its inevitable they return saying "I know I said this and that but I cant stand it" then try and hook you up for a free or dscounted repair. Then they become my nightmare as well as the A Hole that insisted on installing them, some things are best just avoided.

If the new one is too expensive a good used one rebooted with OE or Rockford boots is a much better alternative, clean and inspect them well, repack with redline CV grease, new boots and clamps and its good to go for a long time. I have done this many many times and never had a problem.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
1) The boot appears to have been torn for a while so I would advise against re-booting.

2) Honda should have a remanufactured axle program, I would buy from them or pay for a new axle from the dealer. My experience with aftermarket axles, new or re-man, have been extremely poor. For us, all of them start vibrating (to some degree) within a year.


+1 to both of these.

The only other option is to go to a remanufactur who does a superior job and specifically does not grind into the case hardening of the parts. There is an outfit in Colorado that is good like that.

 

[NibbanaBanana]

As long as it's tight, just put a new boot on. Pop it apart, clean it out, put your new boot and grease in. You'll be good for the life of the car. Don't fix what ain't broke.

 

[Dan55]

A good axle company http://www.raxles.com/ http://www.raxles.com/hondacivicaxleinstall.aspx

 

[NormanBuntz]

From searching myself for my Honda, I see Rock Auto carries remanufactured axles by Cardone. Avoid them at all cost. They are pure junk.

From the amount of crud built up just above the boot, you have lost a fair amount of grease. Also with the size of the tear, plenty of water and dirt have had the opportunity to get inside the joint.

For the sake of quality, maybe a Duralast axle or one from Napa would be the way to go if you install a new one and don't want to use a Honda dealer to buy the parts.

 

[CT8]

Clean it up and re boot . The vehicle is old.

 

[Phishin]

How much is a Honda OEM half-shaft?

 

[supton]

If it was me, I'd reboot. Assuming that pulling the axle is no biggie. If time was a problem I'd buy one of the cheapest remans so I could rebuild the axle in my spare time. It's a messy job but not impossible.

If you're paying for labor though I'd err towards OEM. $400 is painful but 145k isn't that high. Err, 145Mm is only 90kmiles, that's pretty young.

 

[DBMaster]

Before joining this forum in 2012 I had a 1989 Honda Accord that I owned for 23 years and 353,000 miles. I was not aware of the low quality of aftermarket new half-shafts. I purchased a new lifetime warranty axle from O'Reilly in 2009 when the third outboard PS boot tore. The first time it was replaced under extended warranty at the Honda dealer at about 100,000 miles. The second time, at around 200,000+ miles, my local Honda specialist replaced both axles with rebuilt Honda parts from one of his California suppliers. I replaced only the PS axle since that was the only torn boot at around 300,000 miles. I did it myself and never had a bit of trouble, noise, or any other problem until I got rid of the car after a major accident at 353,000 miles. I don't doubt that a lot of aftermarket parts aren't that great. Maybe I just had good luck. Or, maybe in the quest for the lowest bidder aftermarket suppliers provide lower quality parts now.