Cleaning CV while on car?

[esb_t4r]

I replaced my boots about ten years ago and used hose clamps to tighten them. Noticed a lot of grease spray on the front driver side inboard CV boot the other day when changing the oil. It seems like the hose clamp loosened a bit and aside from spraying the grease, it looks like water got it as the grease is a thin milky gray.

The boot is still in good condition so I’d like to move it out of the way and clean the CV joint.

Does anyone have any suggestions for doing this? Just put a bucket underneath and spray a ton of solvent/cleaner? Just wondering how effective it will be. I guess no matter what it will be better than doing nothing and I will repack with new grease.

Also any grease suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[aemravan]

I replaced my boots about ten years ago and used hose clamps to tighten them. Noticed a lot of grease spray on the front driver side inboard CV boot the other day when changing the oil. It seems like the hose clamp loosened a bit and aside from spraying the grease, it looks like water got it as the grease is a thin milky gray.

The boot is still in good condition so I’d like to move it out of the way and clean the CV joint.

Does anyone have any suggestions for doing this? Just put a bucket underneath and spray a ton of solvent/cleaner? Just wondering how effective it will be. I guess no matter what it will be better than doing nothing and I will repack with new grease.

Also any grease suggestions?

Thanks!

I'm not a mechanic, but have been working on my cars for the past 18 years.. the one thing that I have learned and started leaning towards over the last few is if it aint broke, don't fix it. This isn't specific to the CV axle in question, but certainly does apply lol.

How "thin" is the grease? Frankly, I wouldn't bother going through the ordeal of trying to get clean every thing out, especially with solvent. You're bound to do a lot more damage with solvent, than if some water actually did make it in.. which in itself is not overly likely.. your boots are packed with grease, and i would find it very hard to believe water making its way in to a small tear with grease still inside. Most of the CV axle grease (especially after 10 years of use) will break down into this grayish color.

Regardless though, if the boot is good and you don't want to hassle with an extra hour of work taking the CV out and putting it back in to do the work on a bench, I would just grab a box of shop rags, slide back the boot, and wipe out as much grease as you can, and then do your best packing some new grease and calling it a day. One word of caution though.. 10 years is a pretty long time for a boot.. granted the inner boots don't go through nearly as much strain as the outer ones do..but the point is that you may be pulling the axle to replace a boot in the near future anyhow.

 

[octanejunkie]

Pull the axle to rehab and reboot it if you want to save the axle

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk

 

[bob3dsf]

Pull the axle to rehab and reboot it if you want to save the axle

This^^

 

[esb_t4r]

I'm not a mechanic, but have been working on my cars for the past 18 years.. the one thing that I have learned and started leaning towards over the last few is if it aint broke, don't fix it. This isn't specific to the CV axle in question, but certainly does apply lol.

How "thin" is the grease? Frankly, I wouldn't bother going through the ordeal of trying to get clean every thing out, especially with solvent. You're bound to do a lot more damage with solvent, than if some water actually did make it in.. which in itself is not overly likely.. your boots are packed with grease, and i would find it very hard to believe water making its way in to a small tear with grease still inside. Most of the CV axle grease (especially after 10 years of use) will break down into this grayish color.

Regardless though, if the boot is good and you don't want to hassle with an extra hour of work taking the CV out and putting it back in to do the work on a bench, I would just grab a box of shop rags, slide back the boot, and wipe out as much grease as you can, and then do your best packing some new grease and calling it a day. One word of caution though.. 10 years is a pretty long time for a boot.. granted the inner boots don't go through nearly as much strain as the outer ones do..but the point is that you may be pulling the axle to replace a boot in the near future anyhow.

The grease was quite thin and when I pulled the boot back slightly (had taken the hose clamp off) it was dripping out pretty quickly. The hose clamp seemed slightly loose upon inspection and I think water may have seeped in due to the looseness. (Even tho I live in LA where it never rains; still had a couple of big storm days in December and there were some massive puddles that had formed).

I will probably just gently pull the boot back, clean what I can with a clean rag, and pack as much new grease in there like you suggested. If the boot tears I will replace temporarily with a split boot and then replace the axle. Don’t have the time these days to clean/rebuild the axle.

I may use a zip tie with a metal pawl tho instead of the hose clamp to prevent a loosening situation again. The other three boots and hose clamps are still sealed and look fine so will not mess with those.

Any suggestion on a good grease? Was thinking about redline since I can get it on prime.

Thx all for the input.

 

[aemravan]

I guess it also make sense to ask.. is this a verified OEM axle? Or an aftermarket replacement already?

If this is an aftermarket axle, put what you can back in the boot and send it. At the cost of the replacement axles I wouldn't even bother spending too much time trying to do a perfect job.

But.. if these are OEM Toyota axles it could very well be wroth your time to do a pull and reboot.. it'll go much longer and save you time long-run.

 

[esb_t4r]

It is the original OEM axle. If it was a non OEM axle I’d just replace it. I need to review the steps to remove and rebuild the CV and see if I have it in me to do that whole job. Most likely I do not lol.