Quick Question

[UneasyJmitchell]

I recently had a lift put on my truck. Question is while under the truck the mechanic showed me a problem. Behind the right front wheel (its a 4 wheel drive), theres a "boot" and it has come off/broke and there is grease slung all over the backside of the wheel. Question is can the boot be replaced and regreased, or does the boot, and axle, and the other boot on the other end all need to be replaced? Whats the price for the CV boots? Does this replaced ASAP? Theres no noise, yet.

 

[Cruizer]

The boot can be replaced. You have to pull the axel to do it. You can get it around $20 at Napa for boot, grease, and the clamps that hold it on. I priced it when I popped mine off while leveling my truck. I didn't need a new one though, just pulled the axel and popped it back on.

 

[UneasyJmitchell]

Thanks for the quick response.

 

[UneasyJmitchell]

The Napa nor Autozone around here had it, but I called a Dodge dealership and he said he can order it for like $27.00.

 

[UneasyJmitchell]

BTW, how do you make your signature pic of your truck so big?

 

[Cruizer]

The Napa nor Autozone around here had it, but I called a Dodge dealership and he said he can order it for like $27.00.

Odd, Napa has to order it, but I'd imagine if one could they all could. It was only $20 just back in October I think.

I put my sig pic in my album and grabbed the link from there and added it to my signature text.

 

[The Unabomber]

I recently had a lift put on my truck. Question is while under the truck the mechanic showed me a problem. Behind the right front wheel (its a 4 wheel drive), theres a "boot" and it has come off/broke and there is grease slung all over the backside of the wheel. Question is can the boot be replaced and regreased, or does the boot, and axle, and the other boot on the other end all need to be replaced? Whats the price for the CV boots? Does this replaced ASAP? Theres no noise, yet.

The problem was caused from the installation of the lift. Do some research in the lifted section and you'll see why. You will also see solutions for a fix.

 

[UneasyJmitchell]

Ive read almost every lift/level thread and havent seen a solution or fix. I do understand the boot was ripped/torn/undone by the lift. How long before the axle would mess up and do you have any linkys?

 

[Lawhand]

any driving you do while not propperly greased will damage it. but it shouldnt be a problem if u replace it ASAP. dont do a 400 mile trip tho

 

[Burla]

I just had mine done as well. All that boot does is hold in grease and keep grime away. You can drive for a long time with that off, and even if your axle failed at some point it wouldn't be that much to replace it. The labor is the big charge whether you replace the axle shaft setup or the CV boots. They come as one unit, both boots and the axle shaft for something like 100 bucks.

 

[Burla]

So you can tell when your axle has damage because it starts making a clicking noise, again at this point you can drive for a good long time, thousands of miles. However, once you hear clicking you need a axle shaft and just replacing the boot is no longer an option.

Most mechanics probably just prefer to change the entire shaft instead of just the boot, then you have 2 new boots and everything is brought back to new for just 80 bucks difference. If your truck has 50k miles or so I would opt for the entire shaft, again now you have 2 new boots. That pic above is a Dodge axle shaft and is 92 bucks on ebay and even cheaper like http://www.ebay.com/itm/94-00-01-02-03-04-05-DODGE-RAM-1500-PICKUP-AXLE-SHAFT-23196-/360427573023?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Make%3ADodge|Model%3ARam+1500&hash=item53eb284f1f&vxp=mtr for 60 bucks just find your year and don't let some shop tell you this is an expensive part.

 

[UneasyJmitchell]

Only 30k miles, but the entire shaft and boots does seem practical to do (replace it all). Ill probably need another front end alignment too? Just did an alignment a couple weeks ago when the 2.5 inch lift was installed. What you think "labor" would run on that? (Abouts). I havent heard any clicking.

 

[Cruizer]

Ive read almost every lift/level thread and havent seen a solution or fix. I do understand the boot was ripped/torn/undone by the lift. How long before the axle would mess up and do you have any linkys?

I suspect a lot of this is caused during the lift process. That is when my boot popped off, luckily didn't break anywhere. So I just pulled the axel and put the boot back on. Mine was because I dropped the lower control arm down to far pulling the shocks on one side. Advice, pull the bottom of the shock and not the top first.

So you can tell when your axle has damage because it starts making a clicking noise, again at this point you can drive for a good long time, thousands of miles. However, once you hear clicking you need a axle shaft and just replacing the boot is no longer an option.

Most mechanics probably just prefer to change the entire shaft instead of just the boot, then you have 2 new boots and everything is brought back to new for just 80 bucks difference. If your truck has 50k miles or so I would opt for the entire shaft, again now you have 2 new boots. That pic above is a Dodge axle shaft and is 92 bucks on ebay and even cheaper like 94 00 01 02 03 04 05 Dodge RAM 1500 Pickup Axle Shaft 23196 | eBay for 60 bucks just find your year and don't let some shop tell you this is an expensive part.

That is for a used part though. I don't see a point in replacing the axel unless its damaged. The boot is not hard to do when you pull the axel. The clamp is the hardest part cause it "requires" a special tool. You can get it done without it though.

You are correct, you will need another alignment as you're taking apart suspension to pull the axel.

 

[UneasyJmitchell]

Yeah, Im guessing whomever put the first 2 inch lift on, knocked the boot off (caused it to leak). I had just recently purchased the truck and didnt catch the grease leak. I have been contacting the dealership where I purchased it to see if they can help me out with it any. I will also contact the local Dodge dealership to see if they could do anything. I didnt purchase any warranties, but would the "factory" 3 year 36k mile cover this? I can only hope. Its not an expensive part, maybe a hundred bucks, but Ive called around and labor is like 200 bucks to pull the axle. Thanks for all the input.

 

[Cruizer]

I have no idea on the warranty. Did you change lifts or level? If you bought it that way, I'd take it back to the dealership you purchased from and raise some hell.

 

[UneasyJmitchell]

Yeah, I bought a 2.5 inch lift and had it installed, thats when I learned of the leak. I didnt know it already had a small lift on it. I figured since the rear was 3 inches taller than the front that there wasnt a lift, but there was. I am guessing the previous owner had something in the rear to raise it also. I did gain about an inch and a half with the new lift, so theres only a 2 inch or so rake now. As soon as my lift was installed the mechanic showed me the grease that had been slung out. But yeah, I did buy it with a level.

 

[Cruizer]

Yeah, sounds like there might be a spacer in the rear or maybe progressive coils? Look at the coils in the back and see if they have anything on top of them or if the coils look like progressives. Seems like a lot of rake left for the level you put up front.

 

[UneasyJmitchell]

Ill check for that when I get home (trucks at home). It does measure from the ground to the fenderwell (with factory tires) about 41 and 1/4 inch. The front is up to like 39 1/2 now. Definately probably something in the rear. It does have a hitch (tow package) but it doesnt appear to have had any towing at all. Not sure. Still waiting for the salesman to return my call.