I was wondering if anyone else has had this problem:

The boots on the front cv joints of my 98 CRV are torn.
My car began making a small clicking noise over a year ago
and when I took it to the dealer, it was diagnosed as
the tires because one of the tires had a nail in it. I
didn't really think this was it, but I did purchase new
tires and still heard the noise. Since it wasn't very
loud, I assumed that it was just me. It progressively got
worse, so I took it back to the dealer and of course the car
never made the noise when it was driven at the dealership.
Yesterday, I took it back after a local mechanic quickly
the problem. The service manager finally really looked at
the boots and did agree they were torn. The problem is
they don't want to fix it except if I'm willing to pay
$700 for new axles too. He said it looked "fishy" and thought
the boots were damaged - not a warranty problem. I thought
it seemed fishy that they were torn because the only people
working on my car were oil changers and this dealershiP!
Two questions: 1. Has anyone else had this problem and 2. What
should my approach be with the service manager?
Suzie

Don't really know if this is applicable but...

I have never owned a front wheel drive vehicle which didn't go through AT
LEAST one set of boots in its lifetime. They just tear without any reason.

On all occasions they (Dealers) insisted that the CV joint be replaced at
the same time because inevitably "Grit" gets into the tear and its only a
matter of time before the joint fails.

Check your warranty to see if BOOTS are specifically excluded and if not
they should pay for them!

AB

Having had 7 Honda's......

I've replaced more than my fair share of axles.

On one '78 Accord, it seemed to eat them for lunch. I was always
changing one of them - or so it seemed.

I replace one on a '82 Civic I had.

On my '89 CRX, I have replace the left-side once, and the right-side
twice.

Haven't had to do any on the CR-V..... yet.

The rubber boot does tend to dry out with age. This leads to cracking,
and eventually tearing of the boot. (It can also get torn when driving
through a field, for instance. I know of others who have gotten a corn
stalk puncture in the boot!!)

When the boot cracks, tears, rips, punctures, it's just a matter of time
until the grease stops working its magic, and dirt, water and other
stuff gets into the joint. The bearings in there just get damaged with
all this "stuff" over a period of time. When this happens, you begin to
get the tell-tell sign when you turn and you get the clicking noise.

In my experience, I just go down to my local auto parts store and get a
axle from them. On my CRX, they run a bit less than $100, and usually
have a lifetime warranty.

It typically takes me about two hours to replace one.... but, I have
plenty of experience!!

I, in a pinch one time, went a bought an axle, and took it to a Honda
dealer and had them put it in for me. I think they charged me for two
hours labor to do it (this was about 8 years ago, so I could be off a
bit......) Saved a bunch of $$$


Hope that helps!!!

David

Whenever you tear a boot its always better to replace the entire axle
than have new boots put on.


Putting on boots usually ends up costing just as much or more as if
you installed new axles to begin with.

First off, if the boot is torn, dirt has already gotten into the
grease and bearings and will eventually wear the CV joint. Replacing
just the boot wont get all the dirt out. It will extend the life of
the joint a bit but it wont cure it.

Second, the labor to put on new boots correctly (not using split
boots) usualy ends up costing just as much labor-wise as installing
new axles. Axles arent that expensive to begin with so just have new
ones installed.

My current work car is a 90 Accord EX. Both outer CV boots were
leaking. A honda dlr wanted $400 to replace 2 of the boots

I went to a local auto parts store, bought 2 axles for $120 EACH and
then shopped around for install. A local garage installed both for
$250. So I ended up spending a little more for the new axle
install than the dlr wanted for two boots BUT I got new axles with new
CV joints and new boots instead of just 2 boots with dirty CV joints.


Jeff
00 CRV EX
90 Accord EX

A question:

Are the Axle, CV joint and Boot usually purchased and installed as a one
piece unit replacement???

Thanks,
AB

You forgot the water pump too when changing the timing belt in addition to
belts
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) .

SALTMAN

i concur with saltman, do the waterpump. you're in there anyways and should
be cheaper(labour wise) when done in conjunction.

Very good point!!! Thanks guys, I will try to remember that one!

Thomas M. Goethe

Yes, all one assembly