outer halfshaft boot replacement on 98
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 6,275
Likes: 226
From: Farmington CT
Cruise-In VII Veteran
outer halfshaft boot replacement on 98
anyone ever replace the boot on the outer axle? i found the part from gmpartsdirect for 45 shipped, but never torn down an axle(i'll read the gm serv manual tonight); i have no prob getting the axle out of the car, i've been thru susp/axle/diff/hub a bunch of times, thanks
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
I just did this today. It is actually pretty easy if you have a good vice and be careful. You will need to take the entire inner boot and bearings off and either save the oil or replace it. You will need new hose clamps since you will destroy the old ones when you take them off. Remove the hose clamps on the inner boot and slide the boot down. Remove the wire ring inside the steel cup, then pull the cup off. Remove all the bearings and the keeper and keep them clean. Then put the shaft in a vice and remove the snap ring at the end of the shaft, near the bearing holder. Remove the bearing keeper from the shaft by tapping on the end of the shaft and holding the bearing holer in the vice or on top of the vice. DON'T DAMAGE THE END OF THE SHAFT BY POUNDING ON IT. Once you get all that off you will be able to slide the outer boot off and replace it. I used stainless auto part store hose clamps and they work fine although some elitists may disagree. The inner bearings go back in really easily so don't worry about it. Be sure to put the snap ring back in or you will be in trouble. Tightnen your hose clamps with a wrench, not just a screw driver and clip off any excess hose clamp with some tin snips. Mine are working fine and not leaking. Good luck.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,927
Likes: 3
From: Glendale NY
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18- '19
Grease
[tolk]I just did this today. It is actually pretty easy if you have a good vice and be careful. You will need to take the entire inner boot and bearings off and either save the oil or replace it.
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What grease would you use to replace the old grease?
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What grease would you use to replace the old grease?
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
Any decent auto parts store has CV joint grease, it comes in a container that looks like an accoridan, or a CV joint boot. I filled mine up with that and they are running smooth. Drove over 100 miles today and no leaks and no bearing failure..I won't mention how fast I was going!!! 
