Thread: Tired of IT - CV Boots/Axels

This is the 4th axel I have had this happen to. The driver side axel destroying the boot causing grease to go everywhere!

I have replaced my driver side axel 4 times in less than 2 years. I get the axels from NAPA and generally get them warrantied out, but they are fed up with replacing my axel as well as I am.

The outer boot keeps rubbing a hole through the boot. But what is weird is that I have the GMPP Spring and Strut Kit, which GM designed, and only lowers the car .8" in the front and .6" in the rear, no cradle spacers to bring the engine down for my intercooler and I'm still splitting the boot. I know for a fact that the boot is not hitting anything except for itself.

Is there anything that can be done to correct this problem. I cannot shim the tranny mount and engine mount as it will raise the engine to much and my blower will hit the hood. But doing that mod and putting in cradle spacers I don't think would help either because I would just be lowering the cradle by 1/4" and inch which brings the tranny down and making the axel press in tight, but rasing it with the motor mount shims 1/4" would put me right back to where I am currently.

Any help would be much appreciated!

Have you tried running stock axles from Ed Morad? I have heard they hold up much better than the aftermarket replacement ones. Just a thought.

Edit: I replaced a left driveshaft with a used one from Ed. I am sure it was about half of what a new one cost. Can't hurt to check the price.

try a different company.

Originally Posted by Ron Vogel

I blow an axle every trip to the track now. I'm pretty sure it's from having a worn-out suspension and too much engine movement. The more power you make, the more that crap wiggles around on you.

My suspension is pretty tight. I may try to replace the tranny mount also and try this boot kit from GM. Hopefully they work fine on the napa axels.

I have a set on (both sides) from O'Reilly Auto with a Lifetime warranty. They havent given me any trouble so far. I will say that based on my time in the GP community that the GM axles have a much better reputation. It seems to me now that one of the aftermarket vendors was selling axles, OEM kind as I understood it, for far less than what the ones directly from GM will cost.

Originally Posted by Burgundyman

Thanks for the reply...Do you know which vendor is selling the AC Delco brand at a reduced price?

I dont remember off the top of my head. It was ZZP or Wbody store, one of them, I just dont remember which.

Originally Posted by Fish

Ill be putting my SFPH axles to the test this year. Ill let you guys know how they fare.

You make me jealous. I wish I could swing the cost for a set of those. I definitely want to hear feed back on those. As much details and information you can provide.

Whatever CV Boots you go with, cut off the crimp clamps it comes with and use hose clamps. I've been using hose clamps for 3 years now and I have not had one fail on me and i'm running in the 11's

It is amazing but it seems that I can no longer find OEM replacement as my axles have been discontinued by GM...Now there are some dealers who might have old stock and will likely discount them 30% below dealer price (~$385) to rid themselves of this part...Still contemplating spending all that money.

Spoke to Mike at WBody and he says that theirs are made with forged metal from a local supplier...There are not imported but Made in the USA...He sells them for $69.99 per side...He says that they have not had any complaints in the two years they have been selling them...Furthermore, he indicated that the boots are made from extra durable neoprene material to reduce failure...I might try a set...Hopefully this will cure the thumping/humming noise...Funny thing though is that they do not click at all when turning.

Originally Posted by Silver2kgtp

Whatever CV Boots you go with, cut off the crimp clamps it comes with and use hose clamps. I've been using hose clamps for 3 years now and I have not had one fail on me and i'm running in the 11's

Just regular hose clamps? I had thought about this before but wondered how well it would work. Heck, Ive even contemplated heavy duty zip ties, just havent had the nerve to try it out yet.

Well now I dont feel like such a weirdo. In fact, I have one of my axles pulled right now so I can yank out the differential, I may have to break the clamps that are on there and try out some good tensile strength zip ties just for the experiment sake of it.