Word of Warning: Inner CV Boot Leaks
#1
Word of Warning: Inner CV Boot Leaks
As I was getting ready to do an oil change last night, I always visually inspect the underside of my car. I noticed that there was grease slung on my drivers side lower control arm. Upon further inspection I noticed that the end of my inner CV boot (where the boot meets the axle shaft) was leaking. I then realized that Mitsubishi is still using these cheap green CV boot clamps, which over time (in my case around 27k mile and 5 years [my evo is a late 2007 build]) loosen up and will, through centrifugal force, sling grease out of the boot. This was an issue with DSMs as well back in the day, even though the outer boots are held on by better "one ear" type clamps. If caught early, the band can be replaced and by using a needle fitting on a grease gun before you put the new band on and after you take the old on off you can replace the grease lost in the boot.
It can be difficult to inspect due to all the under shields, but I would highly recommend checking, if you don't already, at your oil change intervals. If they are allowed to leak, at some point it will destroy the joints, and new axles for the Evo X are price at almost $800 a piece.
Here is an idea of what it looks like (not an evo, but same type of leak)
Here is an Evo X axel, the green bands are what need replaced. (Pic/Demon X)
It can be difficult to inspect due to all the under shields, but I would highly recommend checking, if you don't already, at your oil change intervals. If they are allowed to leak, at some point it will destroy the joints, and new axles for the Evo X are price at almost $800 a piece.
Here is an idea of what it looks like (not an evo, but same type of leak)
Here is an Evo X axel, the green bands are what need replaced. (Pic/Demon X)
Last edited by AWDTerror; Feb 13, 2013 at 07:46 AM.
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#8
At the risk of spreading mis-information, this leak has nothing to do with a car being moderately lowered, this was simply a result of fatigue resulting from age and use of sub-standard parts. Like I said there are many vehicles that experience this same leak, but most of them have 100k+ miles on them before it happens, not less than 30k.
If anything, there is less stress on the boots from lowering a vehicle moderately. Also axles(as a whole) are designed to work in a wide range of angles. Also there is probably less stress on the trunnions/cv joints than stock due to the reduced angles, and becoming closer to being parallel to the ground. What DOES get stressed more is ball joints, especially the lower control arm ball joint and the outer steering tie rod ball joint.
I use the term moderately, for anything 1-3" lower than stock, anything past that is extreme (looking at 30-45+ degree angles) and everything is stressed at that point. I'm at 2.5 lower than stock and my axles probably have between 5-15 degrees.
If anything, there is less stress on the boots from lowering a vehicle moderately. Also axles(as a whole) are designed to work in a wide range of angles. Also there is probably less stress on the trunnions/cv joints than stock due to the reduced angles, and becoming closer to being parallel to the ground. What DOES get stressed more is ball joints, especially the lower control arm ball joint and the outer steering tie rod ball joint.
I use the term moderately, for anything 1-3" lower than stock, anything past that is extreme (looking at 30-45+ degree angles) and everything is stressed at that point. I'm at 2.5 lower than stock and my axles probably have between 5-15 degrees.
#14
Same problem here. If someone has a link to a quality replacement clamp please post to make my life a little easier
I used to replace CV joints on my 74 beetle all the time since they didnt do well with 2.2l stroker power. It was easy and cheap. It seems replacing just CVs isnt a common practice with newer cars, but at $800 per half shaft I am wondering why. Anyone have some insight into this?
I used to replace CV joints on my 74 beetle all the time since they didnt do well with 2.2l stroker power. It was easy and cheap. It seems replacing just CVs isnt a common practice with newer cars, but at $800 per half shaft I am wondering why. Anyone have some insight into this?
Last edited by Porkskins; Apr 24, 2011 at 09:46 PM.