Front Axle Side Boot

[thatguyant]

My father in law just gave me his old jeep since he wasn't using it anymore. I took it in for an oil change, and the mechanic said the both the front axle boots were broken. I have no idea what that means and the cost to fix it.

Can someone give me an idea of what it does? and is it critical to get it fixed right away? The jeep drives okay (for a free car). Thanks

Ant

 

[BoomerD]

Those rubber boots are "seals" for your constant velocity joints, (or CV joints):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constant-velocity_joint
http://www.aa1car.com/library/cvjoint1.htm

 

[Alone]

You didn't ask the mechanic?

 

[daniel49]

keeps the dirt out of your cv joints.
if you replace them and repack them with fresh grease you may be good for quite a while.
depends on how long they were let go.

 

[thedarkwolf]

If you are going to bother replacing the boots find out how much reman axles cost first. They are usually pretty cheap and since you have to remove the axles to replace the boots anyway with labor replacing the axles wont cost much more. If its been driven around with the boots ripped for a while dirt and grit has arleady gotten in and damaged the bearings so its only a matter of time anyway. I wouldn't bother doing that though till the ones on it start popping and cracking to let you know they are actually bad.

 

[mercanucaribe]

It's expensive to have done because the halfshalfts must be pulled out.

 

[iamwiz82]

It will most likely be cheaper to just replace each axle. I used to do that with my Jeeps, but I cannot recall the cost of the axleshafts now.

 

[thehstrybean]

Jeeps rock....

www.jeepforums.com
If you got a question, they got an answer...

 

[radioouman]

I replaced a half shaft (axle shaft) on my Dakota for $99. I'd guess that a Jeep with the independent front suspension would be about the same.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: radioouman
I replaced a half shaft (axle shaft) on my Dakota for $99. I'd guess that a Jeep with the independent front suspension would be about the same.

Cherokees are solid front axles. Independant suspension didn't get introduced until the Liberty.

 

[Colt45]

eh? jeeps use universal joints.. no boot.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: Colt45
eh? jeeps use universal joints.. no boot.

Incorrect. Any Jeep with the NV/NP242 transfer case used CV joints because if had a fulltime 4WD setting. using U-joints causes the steering to bind significantly while making tight turns while in 4wd, so Jeep went CV for those.