Drive Axle Slinging Grease = Cut Boot?

[Larry Bastanza]

It is the snap ring. I missed it in the DIY but it's there. It was hidden by all the old grease so I couldn't see it.
Jeff

I was thinking to myself: "You left that out of the write up??" .

Glad it all worked out.

Regards,
LarryB

 

[Racerxjling]

I just received my 4 CV boot rebuild kits, so I'll be tackling this job perhaps this weekend or next. Any tips or pitfalls I should look out for (other than what's already posted in this thread)?

How much time overall would you estimate for both sides? I have some headers coming in this week, so I'll be installing those as well as changing my oil pan gasket. I was planning on doing everything all at the same time while the car was in the air. But now I'm wondering if that's too much work for one session?

It took a lot longer than I expected even with a lift. I was quoted 6 hours labor for both sides for a shop that knows what they are doing. It took me 15 plus hours but I was monkeying around with the wrong clips etc. Here are some tips:
1. Purchase 3 quarts Honda manual trans fluid (MTF)
2. Purchase drain plug washer for tranny
3. Purchase vinyl tubing at Home depot (need at least 3 feet) about 1/2" inner diameter...whatever works with your relatively small funnel for the MTF.
4. Purchase pliers that are designed for spreading the clips. The factory clips don't have holes in them for you to grab onto so you may want to buy a few different pliers to see what works. I bought one at Sears but it was still a chore to remove them.
5. **Get a good grease pen to mark the axle shafts...I used Sharpies but they rubbed off w/ all the grease. You may even want to mark the shafts in 2 spots in case 1 spot gets rubbed off.
6. Get a GOOD punch to mark the "spider"...that metal is friggin HARD...Craftsmen punch dulled when I hit it.
7. For the LEFT axle shaft the DIY suggests removing the lower shock mounting bolt...definitely need to do this along w/ removing the sway bar link on that side.
8. Definitely need a buddy to help pull on the hub side while trying to remove the axle shafts from the car. Need good/larger pry bars (I even had to use a crow bar and blocks of wood) to separate the axle shaft from the intermediate shaft (right side) and trans (left side).
9. I found my Craftsmen "dental tools" came in handy to remove the clips....4 piece set...hook/pick etc.
10. Since you will have the oil pan down consider a baffle if u track the car or drive aggressively.
11. I also found a dremel w/ a cutting wheel was helpful to cut the old bands.
12. Make sure your torque wrench goes up to 242 ft/lbs...Crapsman 1/2" doesn't. Use Snap On (I may have one for sale