DIY CV boot change (also driveshaft swap)
 

Ok folks, seeing as I've popped about 6+ CV boots between my Subaru's over the past 2 years, I thought it would be time to learn how to do it myself.

You will need:
[LIST][*]Jack[*]Axle stands[*]Socket set - 12mm, 14mm[*]Ring spanners - 12mm, 14mm, 17mm[*]Leverage tool ie breaker bar, crowbar[*]Impact wrench - 32mm impact socket[*]Screwdrivers - a couple of flathead[*]Lots of rags[*]Hammer[*]Cold chisel (the tool!)[*]WD40/CRC[*]New CV boot kit[*]Gloves (optional)[*]Circlip pliers[*]Degreaser[/LIST]
The whole process would take you an hour tops.

Ok, all the boots I have done lately have been the inner front ones. These must not last as long due to all the added heat and driveline stress at the front of the vehicle. This DIY is based around a 2000 Liberty GX, but my WRX with the 2006 driveline was very similar.

First of all, jack up the car, put it on axle stands. It's easier if you jack up both wheels on either the front or back; as it makes it easier to remove the sway bar links.

Take off the wheel.

Spray some WD40 quite liberally on the axle nut.
[IMG]http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/20/vyty3a2a.jpg[/IMG]

Use a flat head screwdriver with a hammer to pry back the indented part of the inside of the axle nut. Be careful not to damage your screwdriver! I found using the cold chisel + hammer around the sides of the nut helped bring it back to shape.
[IMG]http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/20/yvyty9u5.jpg[/IMG]

Use the impact wrench + 32mm impact socket to undo axle nut.
[IMG]http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/20/yha8a9en.jpg[/IMG]

Now, at the back of the hub, there is a 14mm bolt holding the control arm(?) that you will need to undo. Again, hit it with the WD40 first.
[IMG]http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/20/zagu7ada.jpg[/IMG]

Next, undo one side of the sway bar link. These are usually 12mm bolts.
[IMG]http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/20/muvezehy.jpg[/IMG]

I found that slightly loosening the pivoting joint of the control arm(?) made things easier - 17mm bolt

Now, using your leverage tool, pry the hub out of the ball joint on the control arm(?)
[IMG]http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/20/2uteze6e.jpg[/IMG]

You can then move the hub around and pull the axle out of the hub.
[IMG]http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/20/e6adudu8.jpg[/IMG]

Get under the car and see how the shaft is held into the gearbox. Usually it is a pin in the end, but there may just be a little bracket with a bolt holding it all in.

To remove the pin, use an appropriately sized screwdriver and hammer.
[IMG]http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/20/yhe4y2uq.jpg[/IMG]

Once the pin is removed, you can pull the shaft out the gearbox.

With the shaft out of the car, lay it out on a big rag or piece of cardboard.
[IMG]http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/20/sa8u3aqy.jpg[/IMG]

To remove the old boot, you can either undo the retaining clamps, or cut them off.

With the clamps off, you can then pull the boot off the 'green cup'/CV housing.

Using your finger and a small flathead screwdriver, pull out the retaining ring from under the lip just inside the green cup.
[IMG]http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/20/pymydypy.jpg[/IMG]

With the retaining ring removed, you can then pull the joint out of the housing. Don't lose any of the bits!

Clean everything down with your rags and get rid of all the grease (it is not a good idea to mix different types of grease)

Now, to get the 3-pronged-bearing-thingy off the shaft, you will need to remove the circlip with your circlip pliers (if you don't own some of these, get them... trust me!)
[IMG]http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/20/uqameme2.jpg[/IMG]

Now you should have your shaft, circlip, 3 bearings, 3-pronged-bearing-thingy, retaining ring, and CV housing.
[IMG]http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/20/ge4anade.jpg[/IMG]

Take your new CV boot kit and squeeze all the new grease into the green cup.

Fit the new boot to the shaft. You won't need to clamp it just yet.
[IMG]http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/20/e8e4equp.jpg[/IMG]

Put the 3-pronged-bearing-thingy back on the shaft and fit the circlip.

Put all the bearings back on.

Stick the shaft& bearings back into the cup and put the retaining ring back on (this is an important step!)
[IMG]http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/20/y9egy6y9.jpg[/IMG]

Fit the boot to the cup, and fit the clamps. Most sorts are simply tighten and then clamp the sides.

[IMG]http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/20/ge4azase.jpg[/IMG]

Re-fitting the shaft is the opposite of the removal.

I found that it was easier to pop the ball joint back in carefully using the jack.
[IMG]http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/20/u9epa8yg.jpg[/IMG]

While you are underneath the car, it is a good idea to use degreaser and a rag to clean up all the grease spatter from the broken boot.

When you refit the axle nut, use the cold chisel and hammer to indent it slightly to lock it on.
[IMG]http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/20/e8esana3.jpg[/IMG]

Fit the sway bar links but don't tighten until the car is on the ground.

That's it, you're finished.

Disclaimer: Undertake this job at your own risk!

Thanks mate....Good write up. Have to do this some time soon - was also considering just changing out shaft entirely. Is it heaps cheaper for just boot?

[QUOTE=MikeRX99;799751]Thanks mate....Good write up. Have to do this some time soon - was also considering just changing out shaft entirely. Is it heaps cheaper for just boot?[/QUOTE]

Boots cost around $25-30ea from Repco or about $50-60 for genuine from Subaru (or so they told me)

Thanks mate - you just made something I had no idea about seem doable. Cheers.

[QUOTE=MikeRX99;799756]Thanks mate - you just made something I had no idea about seem doable. Cheers.[/QUOTE]

Yes, I've always taken it to someone!
But it turns out that it isn't as hard as it seems, and given the right tools and a bit of a guide, its actually pretty simple.

The worst part is cleaning up all the grease!!

Speaking of which - the write up doesnt have it but probably good idea to re grease the joint.

Correction - it does have it sorry Jezza.

While doing this on the Liberty, I also re-greased the ball joint on the roll centre kit(?) and back of hub where the axle slips in, as they were pretty dry.

If you dont need to replace the shaft, and you are only changing the boot, you dont need to remove the 32mm axle nut, as you can get enough play without it. If anybody needs shafts, I have a full set of my00 Gc8, sitting here!

I found it easier to clean out the CV and replace the boot with the shaft taken out.


Could a mod please move this thread to the DIY section....