I was in getting new tires and the mechanic noticed a damaged boot on the front axle. He said you'd have to replace the entire axle to repair it. What do any of you think about using a split boot instead?

2001 Xterra

I've replaced many CV boots before without replacing the axle... I don't see why the X would be any different. Sometimes depending on the cost of the axle, it's worth the extra $ to just replace the whole thing... if you're doing the work yourself, that is (it can be a PITA and quite messy to replace just the boot).

Step one, pull axle with split boot.

Step two, replace split boot with a new one

step three, replace axle.

If you have ever pulled an axle you can do a boot

That is a bit misleading... to replace the boot you'll have to disconnect the CV joint from the axle. Not sure about the X, but some are more complicated than others with circlips and spacers that have to go back in the right way.

I don't like those split boots. I'd just get a remanufactured shaft instead. I've installed some of those split boots and they never seemed to last, the "glue" wouldnt hold well and they really didn't save that much time.

The OP had a split on the boot, and was asking about replacing the boot without replacing the axle.

I don't know, I read the last line of his post as asking what we think about using the boot with a split down the middle designed to be able to be put on without removing the axle. I may be wrong, but that's how I read it.

He did but the split boots to fix it are junk, Thats why you need to take the CV aprt to fix it. Unless you just replace the entire axle. Either way its an esy enough fix.

That's basicly what I said.