‘Should I replace my car’s entire axle?’
The Car Doc weighs in.
Boston.com Cars is your go-to resource for coverage of local car news, events, and reviews. In the market for a car or truck? Check out our new car specials and used car specials curated by our local dealer network.Q. I need to have an axle shaft boot replaced on my car, and the shop wants to replace the entire axle. The car seems to operate normally, though. Do I really need to replace the entire axle? What does all of this do?A. The constant-velocity joint boot protects the constant-velocity joint, which is the flexible portion of the front axle that connects from the transmission to the wheel. If the constant-velocity joint boot has been leaking grease for a while, there’s a good chance the C/V joint has been damaged due to the lack of lubrication and contamination from sand and dirt. Then there’s the cost of the repair, which includes the labor to remove the axle, to clean and lubricate the axle joint, and to install the boot. In many cases, the labor cost is equal to or more than replacing the axle. Axle prices have also considerably decreased over time. I looked online for a replacement axle for my car, and a new one was less than $70. A boot kit from the dealer was almost that much, and a boot kit online was about $20. I think the extra $50 is worth it to put in a completely new axle. Now, of course, expect to pay more if the shop is buying the parts.John Paul is AAA Northeast’s Car Doctor. He has over 40 years experience in the automotive business and is an ASE certified master technician. He answers readers’ questions each Saturday. You can tune in to his radio program Saturday morning from 8:30-10 a.m. on 950AM WROL or wrolradio.com. Email your car question to [email protected].
