CV Joints & Boots

On a Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) vehicle, flexible joints are needed on the inner and outer ends of the axle shafts (halfshafts) so power can be transferred from the transaxle to wheels moving up and down with the suspension and turning to steer. These flexible joints are called Constant Velocity (CV) Joints. They are also used on many All-Wheel Drive (AWD) and Four-Wheel Drive (4WD) vehicles, and at the rear on some vehicles with independent rear suspension.

There are several types of CV Joints. Fixed joints are used on the outboard end of the axle, with plunging joints on the inboard side. The outer joints operate at more extreme angles than the inboard joints, while inboard joints plunge in and out to allow for the change in shaft length that occurs during suspension movement. Rzeppa joints are the most common type of outboard CV Joint, with tripod and double offset joints used on the inboard side. A worn outer CV Joint may be indicated by a popping or clicking noise that is heard when a FWD vehicle is turning. If you hear a clunk when a FWD vehicle is placed in Drive and hear clunking and feel vibration when accelerating, suspect a worn inboard CV Joint. All CV Joints are housed in flexible rubber boots, which are attached with clamps to the axle and joint housing. The boots contain lubricant for the joints and shield them from the environment. They are also the most common cause of CV Joint failure, and should be inspected for cracks, tears and other damage.

A torn boot will expose the CV Joint to dirt and moisture, which will contaminate the lubricant and quickly lead to joint failure. The lubricant can also run out and allow the joint to run dry, which will also hasten its demise. We offer both complete CV Joint kits that include a new joint, boot, clamps, and lubricant, and boot kits that come with clamps and lubricant. If a torn boot is found in time before the CV Joint is damaged, then a boot kit can be an economical and time saving repair alternative. Split boot kits are available for many applications that allow the boot to be replaced without removing the CV Joint. A joint that is physically worn or one that is making noise must be replaced. In addition to a new boot, lubricant and clamps, many CV Joint kits also include the necessary hardware for installation. To make sure you have everything needed to complete the repair, we also offer components like transaxle halfshaft seals and hub nuts.

After you've lifted your IFS vehicle, there are other things to be done in order not to end up broken down in the middle of nowhere. Your existing CV Joints may not be strong enough to transfer torque and may actually fail while operating at greater angles than they are capable of. So if you have installed large diameter wheels and there is a tremendous amount of horsepower involved, make your CV Joints worthy of some serious off-road abuse. Made of strong and lightweight materials, CV Joints we stock on our shelves are ready to put that power down with confidence. We also offer the finest boots made of high quality materials that are incredibly resistant to rips and punctures.