tomiv9

So i just got an oil change at the dealer. They said they saw some minor leaks on my CV axle boots, and they may need attention in the future, but were ok for now. Is this a common issue? Should i plan on fixing them sooner than later? Can they be repaired, or do they have to be replaced?

ColdFusion

iTrader: (2)

If the boot tears, you will have distinct signs of oil leaking all over the chassis/suspension parts where the boot is near. Usually the grease will pick up dirt and dust really easily, so if you want to verify the condition yourself, that's what you should be looking out for.

Repairing depends where it's leaking from. If it's the interface between the boot ends and the axle, you could tighten the clamps to prevent further leakage. If it's an actual tear through the boot rubber, then you will have to replace it. If you don't replace it, there is a chance dirt and dust can get into the CV axle assembly itself, and start to wreak havoc on your moving parts (casing, bearings, etc.). At worst, if those get damaged in the end you'll have to replace the entire CV axle.

I would recommend you get it replaced sooner than later, however I understand that dealers do charge a lot mostly due to labor hours (since it does take a good amount of time to get the CV axle off). If you're able to DIY, the boots shouldn't cost more than $60-80 or so, and it'll take you an entire afternoon to complete.

tomiv9

Thanks for the reply. They said it was very minor and just needs to be monitored to make sure it doesn't get worse. They didn't even offer to fix it, which i'm sure they would of if it was a problem. They said a similar thing about my front bushings having minor cracks a few months ago. Didn't need to be repaired, but should be checked again in the future. I think this dealer is really just overly cautious, and likes to scare you into coming back.

ColdFusion

iTrader: (2)

Just check on it from time to time yourself, see if there's any abnormal amount of dirt/grime near your drive axles.