Driveshaft rubber boot

[Len]

Now the exhaust manifold is out the way I see a large hole in the drivers side rubber boot on the driveshaft!

How easy are these to change?
Do they come split and you tie them together?

Oh the driveshafts will be out of the diff.

[thai-wronghorse]

Here's the quickest way but this require a special air operated stretching tool.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=oEKY0uFlBpc&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DoEKY0uFlBpc

[thai-wronghorse]

Ive used one these cone type stretchers quite sucessfully many years ago.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=so9gMxzJH4k&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dso9gMxzJH4k

[gasketface]

Is it the inner or outer one (i'm thinking outer if you are thinking about the one's you join with glue/stretching) ?.The inner one is rubber and metal hence it's the dearest one.

You can do both in situ by removing the 6 splined bolts and removing the metal lump/bash plate thing that's held on to rear subframe by 2 x 8mm bolts for the inner one (you may have to remove both lower strut bolts to get enough room for it to drop if car is lowered).

The outer one can also be done without removing the shaft from the hub but again you will need to separate the strut from the hub and get your hands dirty while you try and get inside the cv joint to release the circlip to be able to get the shaft out of the joint (after you have cut the old boot off obviously !).

[bigberty101]

For how much they cost I would just get a recon shaft from Gsf, they trade in your old one and mine cost me £42 for a recon one. So you have to ask yourself can you justify spending £20 on a boot and half hour if it goes well trying to change it whilst being cover in grease. I know what I would do

[thai-wronghorse]

Is that all they cost complete? 

[Len]

Its the inner one, it obviously got dried out but being so close to the exhaust and then perished.
Engine will be out, have just disconnected the driveshafts so its all ready to lift out!
Dont really want to go to the trouble of putting a new driveshaft in!

[gazareth]

there should be a circlip on the inner end of the shaft. pop that off and the cv should slide off. watch out for any shim washers on either side of cv and whatever you do. do not tilt the cv when your trying to pull it off. I had one fall apart once and what a nightmare trying to line it all up again

[VW BUSH]

Just do both boots its easy once you have split the bottom joint.
then you know that sides good for a couple of years

[Len]

What bottom joint BUSH?