Grease everywhere, CV boot intact..??

Se7enLC · **Posted:** Tue Jun 27, 2006 7:44 pm

So I found axle grease everywhere, I assumed I tore a CV boot. Upon further inspection, I find that there is NO DAMAGE to the boot. None. I combed over it pretty thoroughly wiped all the grease off it, and I see nothing.

So since there is no tear, I can't very well repair a tear. Dealership won't touch it because the "axle isn't straight". They instructed me to go see the person who installed my lift kit. Not sure what they would be expected to do about it, the CV angle ain't gonna be straight unless I remove the kit, and the CV angle is not very bad at all.

What would you do? As far as I can tell, options are:
A). Keep driving. No tear means no problem
B). Find somebody else to replace it
C). Somehow add grease back into it and re-seal it (how?)

I asked the guy at VIP if they had CV boot kits, he said no, but something along the lines of "it's a 2005, why would you do that?"

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Tue Jun 27, 2006 8:03 pm

The axles are not even "straight" on a normal KJ. He should use the correct term and said "level". How long ago did you put on the lift? Could it be that the installer added extra grease..or that the new angle forced some grease out? Are you positive that it is axle grease and not differential oil (just covering all bases)?

If the lift was just recently installed, you might have forced out "some" grease from the joint...like a tube of toothpaste. If you are having no other issues...ie grinding/binding/ect...I would give it a little time and keep an eye on it.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Tue Jun 27, 2006 9:33 pm

I would get it checked out. Its not worth driving around and then spending tons of money when you could of just patched it, or gotten a new boot. May sound stupid, but did you check both boots(2per side)? Was it grease and not oil from the front diff? Check it all real good, it came from somewhere. What color was it?

Se7enLC · **Posted:** Tue Jun 27, 2006 11:38 pm

DarbyWalters wrote:

The axles are not even "straight" on a normal KJ. He should use the correct term and said "level". How long ago did you put on the lift? Could it be that the installer added extra grease..or that the new angle forced some grease out? Are you positive that it is axle grease and not differential oil (just covering all bases)?

It's a blue-green and definitely originated from the inner CV boot. Lift has been on since memorial day, I suppose it is possible that the angle forced some grease out. CV joint didn't come apart in the lift install, so no added grease.

Quote:

If the lift was just recently installed, you might have forced out "some" grease from the joint...like a tube of toothpaste. If you are having no other issues...ie grinding/binding/ect...I would give it a little time and keep an eye on it.

I'm hoping that's all it is. It looks like a lot of grease, but after wiping it all up it doesn't seem like all that much, it's just on everything.

Should I be worried about giving it time? I've heard that when a CV boot tears if you replace it right away it's fine, but if there's something foreign in the CV, it will kill it within a week or two. Then again, I don't see any tears at all, so I don't see how anything could get in there.

It's too bad there isn't a grease fitting. I'd love to just refill it and call it a day.

2006KJSPORT4x4 · **Posted:** Wed Jun 28, 2006 12:14 am

any chance it could have just been some road grime you ended up with there??? just a thought...

Se7enLC · **Posted:** Wed Jun 28, 2006 2:08 am

RockyMtEditionKJ wrote:

any chance it could have just been some road grime you ended up with there??? just a thought...

definitely not. it's very much grease. far too greasy and brightly colored to be an accident. And the places where it sprayed would not have been easy to get to from the road

tarkus · **Posted:** Wed Jun 28, 2006 10:26 am

Who does your oil change? Do you do it yourself or take it to a shop?

Se7enLC · **Posted:** Wed Jun 28, 2006 10:47 am

tarkus wrote:

Who does your oil change? Do you do it yourself or take it to a shop?

Dealer does it, cuz they are dirt cheap ($22) and give me a free rental car.

But it's not oil, it's definitely axle grease

DaveKJ02 · **Posted:** Wed Jun 28, 2006 11:34 am

I bet it squeezed out because of your lift, like DW said. Same thing happened to JoeJeeper.

Se7enLC · **Posted:** Wed Jun 28, 2006 1:16 pm

DaveKJ02 wrote:

I bet it squeezed out because of your lift, like DW said. Same thing happened to JoeJeeper.

I feel better hearing a few people say that

Joe - if you see this - did you have to replace the boot or any of the grease when that happened, or was it fine?

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Wed Jun 28, 2006 3:01 pm

If it is not torn and the cause was the "toothpaste syndrome" then you are probably safe...and have no cavities!

Se7enLC · **Posted:** Wed Jun 28, 2006 4:46 pm

DarbyWalters wrote:

If it is not torn and the cause was the "toothpaste syndrome" then you are probably safe...and have no cavities!

Great!

Does anyone know if there is a way to add more grease? Since the seal is already broken, do I need to worry about water getting in there, or does it re-seal itself?

raceinfan · **Posted:** Wed Jun 28, 2006 4:53 pm

Jeff I talked to my foreman today about your situation & he told me to be concerned about water getting in there if it came out someway the water will go in the same & he's an ex mechanic ( 25yrs ) he's basing it on other experiances with this he's come across

Se7enLC · **Posted:** Wed Jun 28, 2006 5:11 pm

raceinfan wrote:

Jeff I talked to my foreman today about your situation & he told me to be concerned about water getting in there if it came out someway the water will go in the same & he's an ex mechanic ( 25yrs ) he's basing it on other experiances with this he's come across

I think the only thing holding that boot to the axle shaft is a metal clamp and pressure, so I'm picturing it re-sealing itself when it closes back up. I would really need to see the procedure for changing a CV boot to see if anything else needs to be done to seal it.

I wonder if I should swab some RTV around that seal just for extra protection? I just don't see what replacing it would do. I don't think there's a way to tighten the boot, nor is there a way to see if it is "tight enough".

DaveKJ02 · **Posted:** Wed Jun 28, 2006 7:13 pm

You worry too much. You said the boot was still clamped? For water to get in there, you would literally need a vacuum in the boot. The hydrophobic nature of grease would keep any contact water from forcing its way in.

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Wed Jun 28, 2006 10:04 pm

It works like a boot on a ball joint...pressure from inside can force grease out but that does not mean water or grime can get in the same way. It would have to be compromised to get back in...inspect and if it feels tight you are probably alright. Back to the "toothpaste syndrome"...have you ever tried to push toothpaste back in the tube... :idea:

Se7enLC · **Posted:** Wed Jun 28, 2006 11:14 pm

Nevermind, I think I found the tear. I cleaned up all the grease yesterday and found new grease today. It's a very small tear, but I think I will find a place to replace the boot rather than play with it any longer.

Grease everywhere, CV boot intact..??

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