Repacking OEM axle CV boots?

[Ohio Enthusiast]

Final update (I hope) - after 100 miles, the left side boot indeed started leaking at the big clamp (flinging blobs of good grease around), and the small clamps continued to seep a bit of liquified grease.

Took the axles off the diff, disassembled the diff side CV joint, replaced the boot and clamps with the Subaru kit and used Redline CV-2 instead of the Subaru grease. I was lazy and did it on the car (without removing the axle nut and pulling the axle from the hub), but that was just fine and saved me the hassle of dealing with the axle nut.

I started from trying to drop the diff, but that didn't work out so well and started leaking diff fluid (as I couldn't keep the diff level). Bolted the diff back to the car and instead went from the hubs - two bolts removed and it was pretty easy taking the axles out of the diff.

The biggest struggle was actually getting the axles back into the diff. At first I hammered on the hub side (piece of wood on the axle nut), but that didn't do much. Then I hammered a large screwdriver on the small lip on the axle at the diff side and that went right in.

[Opie]

Originally Posted by Ohio Enthusiast

Final update (I hope) - after 100 miles, the left side boot indeed started leaking at the big clamp (flinging blobs of good grease around), and the small clamps continued to seep a bit of liquified grease.

Took the axles off the diff, disassembled the diff side CV joint, replaced the boot and clamps with the Subaru kit and used Redline CV-2 instead of the Subaru grease. I was lazy and did it on the car (without removing the axle nut and pulling the axle from the hub), but that was just fine and saved me the hassle of dealing with the axle nut.

I started from trying to drop the diff, but that didn't work out so well and started leaking diff fluid (as I couldn't keep the diff level). Bolted the diff back to the car and instead went from the hubs - two bolts removed and it was pretty easy taking the axles out of the diff.

The biggest struggle was actually getting the axles back into the diff. At first I hammered on the hub side (piece of wood on the axle nut), but that didn't do much. Then I hammered a large screwdriver on the small lip on the axle at the diff side and that went right in.

Just to note, leakage will also occur if you put too much grease in the boot. It actually takes very little.

[Ohio Enthusiast]

Originally Posted by Opie

Just to note, leakage will also occur if you put too much grease in the boot. It actually takes very little.

I packed the same amount as the Subaru grease bottle that came with the kit - 130 grams. Is that excessive? So far (about 100 miles) there's no grease leaking out.

Edit: now that you mention it, the repair manual specifies 80-90 grams on the CV joint itself, and an additional 20-30 grams in the boot. I think I probably did less on the CV joint and more in the boot, but hopefully that'll even out when driving.

Note to self - thoroughly read the instructions in the repair manual instead of trying to figure stuff on my own...

[Opie]

Originally Posted by Ohio Enthusiast

I packed the same amount as the Subaru grease bottle that came with the kit - 130 grams. Is that excessive? So far (about 100 miles) there's no grease leaking out.

Edit: now that you mention it, the repair manual specifies 80-90 grams on the CV joint itself, and an additional 20-30 grams in the boot. I think I probably did less on the CV joint and more in the boot, but hopefully that'll even out when driving.

Note to self - thoroughly read the instructions in the repair manual instead of trying to figure stuff on my own...

I've seen others pack it full....then wondered why it came out....lol.

[blsfrs]

Originally Posted by Opie

I've seen other pack it full....then wondered why it came out....lol.

A couple of years ago, I put too much grease in and it came out when the cup got hot. So much for trying to eyeball it.

[Ultramaroon]

is it the grease, or air trapped in with it? I don't get grease expanding to the point of squeezing out. Trapped air, however... o.0

[Opie]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

is it the grease, or air trapped in with it? I don't get grease expanding to the point of squeezing out. Trapped air, however... o.0

I think it's the amount of grease, too much and the rotation forces a clump into one side, making the boot flex until it comes out.

[blsfrs]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

is it the grease, or air trapped in with it? I don't get grease expanding to the point of squeezing out. Trapped air, however... o.0

Prolly too much grease. I did the vent tube trick and it still blew. I was the left one. I wrapped my exhaust pipe after the last issue and have been good.