So while doing the front brake lines last week I noticed yet ANOTHER problem with the Tracer - both outer CV boots were cracked open. Apparently they hadn't been that way tooo long, as there was still grease in there. I knew I couldn't leave it that way for long, but I don't have the tools to remove the CV joint to replace the boot, nor the funds to take it to a shop to have it done. Oh what to do? Time for a MacGyver style repair, using a wheelbarrow inner tube, some cable ties, and fresh grease.
- Cleaned out the old gritty grease and repacked with fresh grease.
- Cut a length of the inner tube long enough to wrap around the boot with an inch or so of overlap.
- Cut two small slits in the top (the part of the tube that would be facing the wheelbarrow tire) portion of the inner tube toward the middle, about half an inch apart.
- Did the same on the bottom (the part of the tube that would be facing the wheelbarrow wheel) portion of the inner tube.
- Ran a cable tie into the tube, out and back in the slits at the top, and back out the other end of the tube.
- Ran another cable tie through bottom slits in the same way.
- Wrapped the tube around the boot, with the bottom portion toward the wheel since that end of the boot and tube are both narrower.
- Pulled each cable tie through its lock a few clicks.
- Went back and forth from one tie to the other pulling tighter and tighter, making sure both sides stayed completely over the ends of the boot.
- When it got tight enough I tucked one end of the tube inside the other end.
- Kept pulling tight until both sides were as tight as they could be.
- Wrapped another cable tie around the middle portion of the tube nice and snug.
- Cut the ends off the cable ties.
- Test drove and checked to make sure everything was snug.
- Repeated on the other side.
I then cleaned up and drove to work. I checked both sides again after I got to the office, and found that everything was still exactly as I set it. The CV axle is completely covered, there's no seepage of grease, and the tube covering the boot is solid as a rock, yet flexible enough to turn as I turn the wheel.
I know some of you are going to ridicule the idea, but oh well. It works. I couldn't just leave things as they were, that would be like begging for the CV joints to fail. So I did it this way, and so far so good.
- Cleaned out the old gritty grease and repacked with fresh grease.
- Cut a length of the inner tube long enough to wrap around the boot with an inch or so of overlap.
- Cut two small slits in the top (the part of the tube that would be facing the wheelbarrow tire) portion of the inner tube toward the middle, about half an inch apart.
- Did the same on the bottom (the part of the tube that would be facing the wheelbarrow wheel) portion of the inner tube.
- Ran a cable tie into the tube, out and back in the slits at the top, and back out the other end of the tube.
- Ran another cable tie through bottom slits in the same way.
- Wrapped the tube around the boot, with the bottom portion toward the wheel since that end of the boot and tube are both narrower.
- Pulled each cable tie through its lock a few clicks.
- Went back and forth from one tie to the other pulling tighter and tighter, making sure both sides stayed completely over the ends of the boot.
- When it got tight enough I tucked one end of the tube inside the other end.
- Kept pulling tight until both sides were as tight as they could be.
- Wrapped another cable tie around the middle portion of the tube nice and snug.
- Cut the ends off the cable ties.
- Test drove and checked to make sure everything was snug.
- Repeated on the other side.
I then cleaned up and drove to work. I checked both sides again after I got to the office, and found that everything was still exactly as I set it. The CV axle is completely covered, there's no seepage of grease, and the tube covering the boot is solid as a rock, yet flexible enough to turn as I turn the wheel.
I know some of you are going to ridicule the idea, but oh well. It works. I couldn't just leave things as they were, that would be like begging for the CV joints to fail. So I did it this way, and so far so good.
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