cv axle install question

[JBurt]

So my original passenger axle boots tore after 17 years and 200k miles. I still DD the car so I needed to get it done this weekend. Instead of trying to reboot it weekend I thought I'd get a NAPA axle, swap it out, reboot the old axle and put it on the drivers side, reboot the drivers axle and keep it as a trail spare.

The problem was that no where local had them in stock and I wanted to get it done this weekend. Not a problem. We already had a trip to San Diego planned for yesterday and they had them in stock there.

So I get the old axle tonight and I pull the new one out of the box and I find the metal on the inner dust shield is bent, the rubber is fine.

So I think my options right now are:
1) Transfer the old dust boot to the new axle. It's dirty but otherwise fine.
2) Bend the bent shield back as good as I can and trust the rubber to seal it.
3) Return the axle to the local NAPA tomorrow (or tuesday if the are closed) and wait until they can get one in later in the week and drop my wife off and then pick her up from work (about an extra hour of my day total) until I get my rig back together.

Thoughts? I did inspect the axle to see if it was the right one, but I didn't check to see if it was damaged. I had read about people getting cvj axles that were damaged in shipping and didn't even think about that. Now I know for next time. I wanted to get it done tonight because dove season starts tomorrow but that looks less likely at this point.

Also the new axle has a fat spacer or washer behind the hub nut that wasn't present on the old one. Do I need to use that? I'm assuming no.

 

[NateMob]

As long as it didnt bend down far enough to damage the rubber seal, just straighten it out and you are golden. The only other thing to look at would be after its installed make sure you bent it far enough back so its not rubbing as it spins. Dont return that axle or waste your time swapping that dirt shield, a couple taps with a hammer and flat end punch and you are good to go.

Regarding that nut and washer, if a washer is provided, use it.


Good luck this weekend, shoot your limit.

 

[txbonds]

Unfortunately these things tend to be shipped with the dust shield already installed which as you can see makes a bent flat spot on what ever spot was on bottom or hit the ground. It would be so much better if they shipped them with the dust shield removed.

Mine were so crushed on multiple sides when I got them from Toyota parts that I ended up having to replace them as the metal sheared when I tried bending and straightening them out.

However as Nate said just try to bend it back and once installed give a tweak or two to make sure it doesn't rub when it rotates and you should be just fine.

 

[JBurt]

Thanks guys. I bent it as close to round as I could get and shoved it in. The rubber seal looked fine. No grinding and it no leaking.

I was pretty surprised to find out how easy swapping cv's is. Hopefully rebooting them is easy as well.

 

[LittleCaesar]

I'd swap CVs in this rig any old day before rebooting them. I just hate CV grease. 30 minutes a side with the right tools.

 

[TheeMikeB]

I'd swap CVs in this rig any old day before rebooting them. I just hate CV grease. 30 minutes a side with the right tools.

Totally agree, I swapped mine out 3 years ago and kept my OEMS for spares. Finally got around to rebooting 2 weeks ago. Messy for sure but really not that bad. But piece of mind knowing I've got a pair of solid OEMs with me as trail spares.