RE: My 86 4000 CS Quattro

["Buchholz, Steven" <Steven.Buchholz@kla-tencor.com>]

> > I recommend "if it ain't broke... don't fix it" when it comes to CV
> boots.
> > They are all independent of one another, so you don't save any $$$ by
> > lumping these in with other repairs.  Just keep an eye on them.
> 
> Dunno - it;s easier to do the inners at the same time as the outers;
> it's easier to do the second side when all the tools are handy.  I
> suppose it depends on what the others look like.  
> 
... I also tend to agree with doing both sides at the same time ... but ...

While I have been known to replace the inner boots, I can't say as I've ever
seen or heard of one going bad.  In recent history I tend to simply replace
the outers and the gasket/seal where the inner attaches to the drive flange.
The boots that get the most abuse are the outer boots on the front half
shafts as they have to accomodate almost all of the geometry change during
steering.  The front inners are next, but unless someone has fitted 4WS to
their q (yes, I've thought about it ... :), the rear half shafts really
shouldn't see that much tweaking.

Steve Buchholz
San Jose, CA (USA)