WH Front Axle CV Repair
 

After raising my Grand 5 inches without the diff drop, my front CV boots, both inner and outer, on both axles have torn apart prematurely soon after the lift install. I ended up buying a diff drop and new CV boots soon after but still drove around with torn boots and flying grease for another 10 months until I finally had enough procrastinating and got around installing it (my lift thread: http://www.ausjeepoffroad.com/forum/...d.php?t=134915).

While I had the whole front out, I quickly pulled apart the CV's, removed the torn boots, washed all the old grease, inspected the CV's (as I had some spares, but they were good), regreased and fitted new boots.

Torn boot from the OEM 8-ball CV that was on my driver's side. Although the boots have disintegrated, they lasted a lot longer at those extreme angles after the lift than the aftermarket ones. Much better rubber by look and feel.
http://www.ausjeepoffroad.com/forum/...1&d=1436587416

Torn boot from an aftermarket 6-ball CV that was on my passenger side. I changed this one after breaking the stock one at Stockton Beach after landing and bouncing in a massive rut at speed on the last day of 2012. Jeep'ers and ick72 know this.
http://www.ausjeepoffroad.com/forum/...1&d=1436587416

Aftermarket CV. Note 6 balls and a LOT weaker than the original OEM ones.
http://www.ausjeepoffroad.com/forum/...1&d=1436587416

New boots. Different brands LOL. Oh well, as long as they fit.
http://www.ausjeepoffroad.com/forum/...1&d=1436587416

The original OEM 8-ball CV.
http://www.ausjeepoffroad.com/forum/...1&d=1436587416

Nice and clean.
http://www.ausjeepoffroad.com/forum/...1&d=1436588362

The original 8-ball CV is next strongest after the mighty RCV's.
http://www.ausjeepoffroad.com/forum/...1&d=1436588362

Packed new grease. Comes together with new boots and bands.
http://www.ausjeepoffroad.com/forum/...1&d=1436588362

Boot ready.
http://www.ausjeepoffroad.com/forum/...1&d=1436588362

I usually flip the end lip of the boot over to prevent grease getting onto it, then slide until it reaches the rim and flip it back over the CV to keep it dry of grease.
http://www.ausjeepoffroad.com/forum/...1&d=1436588362

Both axles and all 4 boots done. Almost like new :D
http://www.ausjeepoffroad.com/forum/...1&d=1436588678

I hope this helps someone.

Watch the front diff seal (Passenger, short shaft), they have a tendency to leak after you remove & refit the shafts.

It's good to know your R/H diff short drive shaft comes out too. In the manual it's meant to stay within the diff but on my Commander it always dis-engages from the diff and not the half shaft as per your photo. It makes it a pain to retract though.

On the CV boots, good quality zip ties is getting a pretty good case history instead of those difficult to use clamps.

Yeah, had that exact seal replaced before when I broke the CV in the rut. The inner CV broke and it destroyed the seal also. Never had an issue at other times and pulled the shafts out can't remember how many times now [emoji38]

The short one in the pic is the passenger side and the long one's the driver's side. It never separated for me. It's good that way.

There are 3 types of metal bands that I know of.
1. The factory bands that require a special tool
2. The aftermarket bands that require nippers to tighten
3. The aftermarket bands that fold back

I haven't had difficulties with either of the aftermarket ones.

I had the aftermark boot bands disconect once so I did my own banding in wire using a special tightening & crimping tool. I NEVER use the aftermark CV's anymore as they only last for 2 weekends away of hard driving compared to 2 years of extreme driving with the original Mopar ones.

Sent from my SM-N9005 using Aussie Jeep Offroad mobile app

I know they are weak. How much did you get the Mopar ones for?