outer CV boot guide please

[PPTom]

The 182 has just failed its first MOT on lower ball joints and a split (1mm!) outer CV gaitor - nearside.
I've never changed a gaitor before so could someone do me a quick talk through please?

 

[Laura]

need one too lol, doinf mine on sat

 

[PPTom]

Ball joints now replaced - £10 each from local motor factors . Really need some pointers for the gaitor though!

 

[bmh.01]

Which side? Pretty simple either way, passenger side and you'll need to replace the gearbox oil. Basically you need the shaft out so you can change the gaitor on it.

Should've done it the same time as the balljoints as it'd be easy peasy to get the shaft(s) out.

 

[Laura]

apparently you can do it without changing the gear box oil, as at 11£ a litre and needs 4 litres.. bit expensive

 

[bmh.01]

No way to do it if you need to take the passenger side shaft out as it'll drop all the gearbox oil as soon as you undo the shaft seal/inner gaitor from the box to get the shaft out. Drivers side is fine, don't need to worry about the oil.

 

[PPTom]

the passenger side ball joint is only loosly fitted at the mo, I was waiting for some pointers before putting it back together. So i have to remove the entire shaft, even though I only have to change the outer boot?

 

[bmh.01]

Yep as you need to feed to boot on from one end as there isn't a split in it. You'll need some new gearbox oil as well then if its a passenger side. You'll have fun refilling that.

 

[PPTom]

Can't you remove the shaft from the hub and take off the CV joint?

 

[bmh.01]

If it'll strech over then yes, as long as your careful and don't pull the shaft out the gearbox you'll get away with it.

 

[Laura]

you can just knock the CV off the end of the shaft and put it on from this end

 

[PPTom]

Ah well, I've just been qouted £50 to have it fitted so I'm going for that option. Something will go wrong if I do it (loosing gearbox oil etc) and it will probably end up costing me more! I've saved a few qiud by doing both ball joints for only £20 and the MOT was only £25 with the retest free.
One more question, they reckon that the tracking needs doing after everything has been apart, it won't do any harm really, I've never had it checked. But is it really necessary?

 

[madmike1]

if the tracking was fine before you started and you dont move the track rod ends from their position then it should go back as it was before you started