Ok a mini how-to for CV boots, albeit with the driveshafts off the car which makes it soooo much easier!
Before:
Cleaned up a bit. Auto shafts are so much shorter than manual ones...
You can see the centre piece of the joint through the hole in the boot. This is what we need to hit to push the joint off the shaft.
One hit with the chisel and the joint comes off
Joint and remains of the old boot removed
The joint itself is good. No water ingress or dirt in there so fine to re-use it
This is the GKN Lobro boot kit, available from ECP for £20 ish, part number
656 443 610. Don't bother with universal boots or Chinese tat - they're not worth the effort when the OE one is so cheap. This one comes with all the fitting hardware, proper clips, and fresh grease.
Top tip to get the boot on - put a plastic bag over the end of the shaft. This allows the rubber boot to slide over the splines and various shoulders on the shaft without being damaged. Don't forget to put the inner boot clip on first!
Fit the new spring washer, spacer and circlip
There are two sachets of grease. Fill the boot with one and the joint with the other
Get the inner part of the joint perfectly lined up with the splines on the shaft and it knocks on fairly easily. Tap it on with a hammer until it stops.
Slide the outer edge of the boot over the joint. Some grease always escapes at this point
Crimp the clips on.
Done and ready to go back on
Back on the car
Time to put the upright back on. I put these on the lower control arms first to take the weight as the front one is held in place by the damper
The bolts for the lower and front upper control arms must be tightened only with the car on its wheels so the rubber bushes are relaxed at normal ride height and wheels straight. The top rear arm is pre-set though as you can't get to the bolts for it with the wheel on. There's a diagram in the manual for where to set it.
You need three or four human arms to get both the control arms compressed and in to the upright and hold them while you tighten the bolt up. As I only have two human arms, a ratchet strap holds the rear control arm in place while I put it all together.
Complete
Other side after watching the Suzuka quali highlights
