Drive shaft / CV Boots

[al_bey]

After replacing the track rod on the drivers side, i have noticed that both of the boots (inner and outer) are split. The one on the CV boot i did today when putting the wheels on full lock when the whole front was jacked up.

Is it easyier to buy a second hand driveshaft and replace the whole lot, or to do both boots as a kit?

Also how hard is it to replace the driveshaft?

Thanks in advance

[harlemex]

its very fiddly replacing the inner boot with shaft connected. Remove the entire shaft by undoing the inner cv bolts which are 8mm spline, undo the hub nut at other end(while car is on the ground with wheel on) and the lower ball joint (three 13mm bolts/nuts) separate driveshaft from hub(can be thricky, try a hub puller).

[harlemex]

Just to add, if the boots have been split a while, best to get new cv joints. 

[al_bey]

Cheers for the advice, i think i might just buy a new driveshaft (2nd hand) with both CV's attatched, then it saves a lot of messing around......

[harlemex]

good idea, just try and be sure you get a good condition before you pay (ie ebay) 

[AudiA8Quattro]

No need to replace cv joints, unless they are knocking.
Make sure you clean the joints out thoroughly with parafin or white spirit.
As already said, remove the shaft from the car first.
Can you actually change the inner boot with the shaft still on the car??

[harlemex]

yes you can but it is very tricky fiddly getting the circlip on.

[al_bey]

I don't have any knocking, so you suggest i just buy the kit to re-do the boots?

[AudiA8Quattro]

yes you can but it is very tricky fiddly getting the circlip on.

I found it fiddly enough with the shaft off the car 
I'd like to see someone try with it in situ 

[AudiA8Quattro]

I don't have any knocking, so you suggest i just buy the kit to re-do the boots?

Yes, but make sure you clean out the joints thoroughly with a solvent.