Change Jeep Gladiator CV Boot

[adamjedgar]

Hi guys,
just changed the front RHS CV boot on 2022 Gladiator Rubicon.

A couple of issues:
1. sludge gets into the housing and there is only an inner seal...so i dont know how to clean out sludge 2 feet inside the housing?
2. When i looked inside, i notice that the inner female spline isnt lined up and as the male on the drive shaft isnt tapered, i am not sure how im supposed to line inner one up so that i can reinstall the shaft properly?
3. the new universal type CV boot is slightly larger in diameter than the original...so its a tight squeeze for the CV to get inside the alloy housing

i also got a bit carried away on the first attempt with the CV boot expander tool and split the first boot in half (result = trip back down to autoparts for a second one and a $35 lesson in patience). As one gets close to the 100mm expansion size to go over the outer CV, one has to stretch extremely slowly and carefully...its a fine line between success and failure when stretching the inner boot this much.

The air operated expander tool cost me about $260 Australian dollars and is Toledo brand. As one has to pull the drive shaft at least 50mm out in order to cut the inner boot strap off, its really simple to pull the shaft the whole way out and just slide the whole boot over the spline side of the shaft anyway...so the expander is not really necessary to be honest (especially given the chances of splitting the boot trying to expand it are extremely high). The sludge problem i think is always going to be a problem as it appears to me that the inner seal is only about 10-20mm from the spline on the drive shaft...so dirt is going to get in long before the shaft is out far enough to even cut the inner CV boot strap off.

NOTE

in the last image below, the shaft is not fully installed...that image is merely to show how tight the fit is for the new boot.

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[The Yeti]

Saw some grease on the PS front outter axle boot earlier. Haven't investigated too much yet other than attempting to find correct part #'s to no success. Found axles are crazy expensive for these things though and stumbled on this thread. Rsther than stsrting a new one thought Id ask here firdt. Is there a part # for just the boot? Also how do I determine which axle I need on my 80th anniversary? I'm just assuming it's likely the cheaper option NOT being the wide axle and an M210 front axle I believe...

 

[adamjedgar]

Saw some grease on the PS front outter axle boot earlier. Haven't investigated too much yet other than attempting to find correct part #'s to no success. Found axles are crazy expensive for these things though and stumbled on this thread. Rsther than stsrting a new one thought Id ask here firdt. Is there a part # for just the boot? Also how do I determine which axle I need on my 80th anniversary? I'm just assuming it's likely the cheaper option NOT being the wide axle and an M210 front axle I believe...

Note from my original post above...

You can simply buy an after market CV boot for these...that's what i did when i tore a CV boot a while back (before transmission issues).

You will need a couple of important tools in order to complete the task. Thing is, to set yourself up with the tools for this, as a one off isn't worth it. However, given that i 4wd and am likely to regularly tear holes in CV boots, i went ahead and spent the money tooling up (cost me $350 Australian dollars - probably about half that in US dollars id imagine)

Also, a BIG caveat...don't get trigger happy with the air explander...do that and you will find yourself heading back down to the spare parts store to get a replacement CV boot

I tore my CV boot in half on the first attempt at expanding it...you are stretching the inner part of the boot about 3-4 times its original diameter to get it over the CV

The first time you do this I would order spare boots.

Also first time around, you will swear its not possible to expand the rubber boot that far. Trust me, it does work and once you get the knack of it, you wont tear the boots.

Tools you need are below:

1. tool to tighten the steel ring around the rubber boots (i tried the old fashioned way and it works but not great and the tool for doing it is cheap)

2. A CV boot expander (mine is air operated - see image below). Getting it on without one of these i would suggest is virtually impossible

 

[The Yeti]

Can't seem to find a replacement boot. Searching all the local and big chain part stores. I'm in Canada so not sure why but nothing popping up in my online searches either. Figured I could use a funnel to replace it if I could find a boot but no luck. Would you happen to have a part number? I'm assuming this isn't somthing covered under the extended warranty since they denied the drag link because of my "unknown aftermarket lift". Just finished installig Mopar 2" coils up front and proper lenth shocks so maybe that'll change things I dunno

Edit: I guess what I meant was I cant seem to find anything specific for the Gladiator. I can order a universal boot I suppose and hope it fits decent and doesnt tear in short time.

 

[TrevorD]

Did you find a universal CV boot that fit fairly well? I tore my front left CV boot and cannot find an axle or just the boot. I'd prefer to buy just the boot but there are a lot to choose from. Thanks in advance if you can post a link to what you found.

 

[The Yeti]

Actually somehow i now have a new complete axle under warranty thankfully. But, my plan was to buy a generic Dorman one and swap it out. Seemed easy enough and probly cheaper in the US for a shot. Being North of the border its was still worth the $50 + bucks to try it vs the $1,500 axle.

Edit: was also just gona order and try it never did verofy the stock size vs the Dorman replacement (or any other brand for that matter)

 

[TrevorD]

Thanks for the reply! I'm also north of the border, GO Bombers! Lol! Warranty would be sweet! My dealer located an axle in Texas but he's waiting for them to release it, whatever that means. I'd still prefer to just change the boot as it would be much cheaper but for now I'll wait for the part and when it comes then I'll replace the axle and find an aftermarket boot that fits and try to sell the used axle assuming others have the same problems finding these parts.

 

[The Yeti]

Makes sense. Could always keep it as a spare for a quick r&r and swap the boot when you have time when it eventually happens again. I had a spare axle for a Duramax I used to do that with because it had lifetime warranty just remove swap out and bring the spare back for exchange and it was waiting for the next boot to tear

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