Replace Rear CV Boots without Removing Axle from Wheel Hub?

[locar]

Is it possible to replace the rear inner and outer CV boots without removing the axles from the wheel hub?

I don't want to have to replace the wheel bearings if I don't have to. I already dropped the rear subframe without loosening the center nut.

[Bggdnssnguy]

So if the axles are removed. You are suppose to replace the bearings??

[AndrewBird]

You don't technically have to replace the bearing, but if the axle gets stuck in the bearing, it can damage it when you pull the axle out.

[jeffnhiscars]

If you dropped the subframe I have no idea how you would ever loosen the hub nut. The risk in wrestling the boots off and on in that situation is not to stress the CV joints.

[noid]

You wont damage the wheel bearings by removing the axles.

[Bggdnssnguy]

Oh okay. I thought about replacing them any ways to say I did and not have to worry about it later on, but that will come when I do rear brakes and stuffs.
Thanks guys!

[AndrewBird]

You wont damage the wheel bearings by removing the axles.

That is a bold statement to say for certain.

As I said earlier, if the axle gets stuck in the bearing (which it often does) and you have to press the axle out, there is a high risk of damaging the bearing as you can't get to the rear of the bearing to support the inner race when pressing. The inner race will come out with the axle and when it does, it usually destroys the cage inside the bearing.

[noid]

That is a bold statement to say for certain.

As I said earlier, if the axle gets stuck in the bearing (which it often does) and you have to press the axle out, there is a high risk of damaging the bearing as you can't get to the rear of the bearing to support the inner race when pressing. The inner race will come out with the axle and when it does, it usually destroys the cage inside the bearing.

The axle goes through the hub, which in turn is within the inner race of the bearing. When using a 2 or 3 jaw puller, the puller is pulling the hub, and pushing the axle. One is moving relative to the other, the hub isn't moving relative to the bearing.

Just make sure to undo the axle from the differential before separating from the hub.

Theoretically, there are some retard level ways to remove the axle that could damage the bearing (such as removing the hub via slide hammer while keeping the axle attached to the diff), but I mean, who the hell would do that?

[AndrewBird]

Yeah, you're right. I don't know what I was thinking.

[jdance30]

It seems to be possible as long as you remove the diff from the subframe and move it out of the way to have plenty of room to work with, not saying it'll be easy, but I think it's possible.

[noid]

It seems to be possible as long as you remove the diff from the subframe and move it out of the way to have plenty of room to work with, not saying it'll be easy, but I think it's possible.

Remove diff to change CV boots.

[ahlem]

J.C. Whitney used to sell axle boots for VW Beetles that didn't require removing the axles. They had a split in them that screwed back together. Don't know the geometry but may be worth a look.