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Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!lll-crg!ucdavis!ccrse
From: ccrse@ucdavis.UUCP (0058)
Newsgroups: net.auto.tech
Subject: Re: wheel bearings
Message-ID: <277@ucdavis.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 11-Nov-85 17:04:18 EST
Article-I.D.: ucdavis.277
Posted: Mon Nov 11 17:04:18 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 13-Nov-85 04:28:58 EST
References: <2427@sunybcs.UUCP> <204@ucdavis.UUCP> <2180@amdahl.UUCP> <114@emacs.UUCP> <974@lll-crg.ARpA>
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Organization: University of California, Davis
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> 
> > OK, what is the difference between a bearing an a CV joint.  My
> > 1981 Dodge Omni, (yup readers, the same one) has "worn front CV
> > joints".  On one of them (drivers side) the rubber bag that holds
> > the grease is ripped.  The grease can disappear.  ...
> 
> If the CV joint protective boot is cracked then grease can get out and 
> water can get in and it would not be suprising if the joint wore out
> in short order.  So called "split-boot" kits can be obtained which allow
> you to replace the boot without taking off the drive shaft -- the boot
> is split and you glue it back together after wraping it around the shaft.
> I have one of these on my Rabbit and it seems to be holding up.  It is 
> possible that your CV joints just need to be repacked with grease; you
> might want to ask your mechanic about this.

At least on the car in question, the CV joints don't seem to be particularly 
touchy about contamination/loss of lubricant.  As long as the boot is repaired
and the lubricant replaced within a reasonable period of time, the CV joint
doesn't seem to suffer too badly.  Changing the boot is not one of my favorite
jobs, though. 

I am curious about the so-called "split boot" kits mentioned above.  Anything
that eliminates the need to remove the drive shaft from the car certainly
sounds attractive to me.  Has anyone else had experience with these kits,
and/or know if they are applicable to late-model Chrysler FWD cars?