I was reading an article recently that said it's very important to inspect cv boots to minimise expensive repairs to the CV's. Can anyone tell me what I should look for eg cracks etc?

Many thanks in advance.

Basically all you can really do is check to see if the rubber seal is still intact, no rips etc. Maybe even poke it a bit, make sure the rubber isnt thining in areas.

As long as the under carrage has not been steam cleaned, its quite easy to see if the CV boot is leaking by looking for oil and dirt build up on the rubber boot and surrounds.

Hardly call it an expensive exercise to fix but, they are about $90 change over and a pice of piss to fit. It ony becomes expensive if you leave it, the CV ceases and roots your diff.

a good indicator is to check your inner rim... if you see greasy sh!t there then one of your boot is leaking.... i had the same problem took it to mitsu and $90 later, all fixed.. :D

Like everone is saying look for any grease thrown out from a cracked or split boot on the wheels or transmission and body. There are inner and outer cv boots each side.

i had my cv boot replaced not too long ago, and just yesterday i had new mags put on and there was grease all over the inside. i took my new wheel off this morning and there is already grease on there. is this a problem with the boot or the joint.

also when im turning full lock to the left there is a clunk clunk clunk noise. is this the joint? shouldnt they be able to see if the joint is stuffed when they replaced then boot. could have saved some money on labour if i had it all done at once.

i had my cv boot replaced not too long ago, and just yesterday i had new mags put on and there was grease all over the inside. i took my new wheel off this morning and there is already grease on there. is this a problem with the boot or the joint.

also when im turning full lock to the left there is a clunk clunk clunk noise. is this the joint? shouldnt they be able to see if the joint is stuffed when they replaced then boot. could have saved some money on labour if i had it all done at once.
yep, bad news - correct on both counts, you've got CV probs.


Did they replace 1 boot or 2?
Is the greasy one the new boot or the old boot?


Some of the boot kits out there... the rubber boot is wrapped around
then the seam superglued together. Sometimes that glueing can fail
if the mechanic has massaged it with greasy hands.

they replaced 1 boot i think, i dont know much about it but the greasy one is the new boot that they replaced. should i replace the cv joints on both sides at the same time is i think its only the right one that is stuffed.

they replaced 1 boot i think, i dont know much about it but the greasy one is the new boot that they replaced. should i replace the cv joints on both sides at the same time is i think its only the right one that is stuffed.
If you safely jack your car up with both front wheels off the ground, tranny in Park
and the steering totally cranked to one side... you can move the tyres by hand
and if your CVs are really shot you'll hear the "cracking" from the bad side.

If your CV is already shot after it dumped its grease, rebuilding with new boot is useless.
New grease will only stop it wearing out further, not 'repair' the original damage.
Only solution is to get a better-condition new/recond CV.


As for changing boots... if you're the type who spends a lot of time
under the car for fun (its very therapeutic!)... then yeah, just change
1 boot at a time. Keep an eye out for when the other one goes.

But for usual ppl who don't like fixing cars... if one boot goes, re-boot Both.

ok cheers for your help man, ill have a look later on today i think.

Thank you all for your replies.

Are the boots only available as a genuine part or are they available after-market?

Not sure if Mitsu sells re-boot kits, probably not. The ones I've seen hanging in the Mitsu dealers' Parts sales desk aren't Mitsu branded, just 3rd party ones. Probably find the same from Repco etc.

Bloody messy job and it helps if you've got a parts washer (degrease) and airline (blow everything dry again). I'd be happy to pay a proper mechanic a reasonable few bux to fit new boots everytime. :)