my girlfriend has just been told by her dealer that the cv boots are cracked and need to be replaced.These guys want 465.00.just for the boots.. to me thats robbery, cause i could probably buy the whole assembly and put it on for cheeper..however, my girlfriend likes the idea of an "official"mechanic fixing it.. can someone give me an idea of what a resonable cost for this should be?? or should we buy the whole assembly and put it on new?? (1998 honda civic w/automatic) thnx for any input.. mike

 

Dont know how much a whole assembly runs, but I had a single CV boot go out and it cost me about $200 so that price isnt a rip off even though its pretty high. If its cracked then your bearings will be ruined so its pretty important. Check a junk yard for a CV boot, thats your best bet.

 

you can get the cv axels at pepboys for around 200 each not sure if the have for your exact car but im sure they can get them..they had a sale on them at one point they were like 149 or sumthing like that....they are not that hard to change either...you can find step by step instructions all over the internet or they hvae them in the haynes manual as well..

 

Checker Auto sells the Left half shaft for $130 new and $75 for a Reman. The right side is a little cheaper for new $119.

As stated - if you are handy with the tools CV shafts are fairly easy to replace. Grab a haynes and you should be good to go.

However, many times if the boot has just a small tear, replacing the boot is a lot cheaper (boot will cost about 15 to 20). But the catch is - replacing just the boot is a lot more difficult and more time consuming. This sould be done by someone with a bit more knowledge about cars, than someone that is just handy with tools.

 

I would not bother replacing just the boot, exp if its the inner boot. I have done several half shats lately and they are not that complicated. In Salt Lake checker price matches and beats by 5% so I there. I have been paying 60 to 70 for the each half shaft.

 

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I have always thought that once the boot is torn and exposed to dirt and stuff, that its going to go bad any way. So i usually just replace it because its about the same amount of work. Thats just me.

 

Two things with CV's:

1. I have replaced the entire CV shafts on my 1991 Honda Civic two times in 3 years (40k miles) and now need to do it again. These were "rebuilt" and installed by a local garage and a good mechanic. With a lift and the right tools it is a one hour job to replace both shafts. Maybe less.
One set of rebuilt CVs failed within a year and under a parts warrwanty. After 2 rebuilts in three years and not many miles, I will go for the new shafts - no more rebulds. At my local parts store, new trade ins are $75 each, rebuilds $50. And Honda wants about $400 each installed.

2. I think $475 just for the boots is a rip!