[Vwdiesel] Another issue

[LBaird119 at aol.com]

How
hard is it to replace this boot? Is it something I can get local like at
Auto Zone?  Before long this car will be 100% new at this rate.


  Not too hard to replace.  Pull the axle nut from the center of the wheel/
hub.  Jack up the car and support it by the body.  Let the lower A arm 
hang, remove the pinch bolt and pry the lower ball joint out of the 
steering knuckle/hub.  Swing the strut assembly out and slide the outer 
joint out of the splines and free.  Remove or loosen the clamps (if 
reusing them) and pull the boot back.  If it's later than '80 then take 
a hammer (prefferably soft faced but heavy) and hit the back side of 
the CV joint and drive it off of the axle.  It's held on with a spring ring.
Earlier ones are held on with a snap ring plier type of snap ring.  
  Remove the inner clamp, slide the remainder of the boot off of the 
axle.  Ideally clean and disassemble the joint and reassemble.  Fill 
the joint with the grease that comes in the boot ki t by forcing it in 
the axle hole. Slide the new boot on the axle, put on the small clamp 
and tighten.  Put the remaining grease inside the boot.  Be sure the 
mating surface of the boot to the joint is CLEAN and free of grease.  
Slide the joint on, tap it on firmly while sliding the boot over the axle 
and do the clamp.  Reassemble the axle to the hub and ball joint, 
reinstall the wheel, put back on the ground.
     Loren