2003 Volvo XC70 PS Inner CV joint leak

[GBS]

Hey all, so today I noticed there were quite a bit of grease around my inner CV join passenger side, I took the wheel off and noticed there was quite a buildup on the parts around the inner clamp on the boot. I just replaced my shocks and I'm thinking they're related somehow, maybe the boot got stretches too far when I was pulling on the knuckle to get strut back on.

I'm curious, the car has 165k miles on it, would it be best to get a new axle all together or just replace the boot? I've never done anything like this and curious how hard it is to get the passenger axle off and on. See pictures for grease, the texture is more greasy than just oil

Any advice appreciated, thanks!

[GBS]

Update: Decided to replace axle, got the axle out with instructions from other posts here, appologies for making a new, should have done a better search first.

Noticed there were some different instructions on how to get it out but I took off what I'm more familiar with starting with ABS cable, bottom end link, tie rod end, then I went for the two strut bolts since I have lifetime alignment on this vehicle. Made it very easy to get shaft out, I also took off the bearing carrier but don’t think that was necessary. Got a new unit from local auto place and installed in reverse order. Great posts on how to do this already here and I'll make sure to do a more thorough search next time.

Driving the mrs V70 today and the “low battery” came on, had battery checked at Interstate and all well so it must be alternator. Not sure I’m ready for another immediate type project like that

[kseyoum]

GBS,
I was wandering about your final fix of the leaking CV joint. I have a very similar scenario--in my case, the old joint was leaking, then put a new one on and that was leaking, and yet put another new one on, and that was leaking. Are we all sure that the joint/boot is the culprit? How about other things at play?

[GBS]

actually turned out to not be a split boot but the seal on the "inside" of the boot was leaking and trowing out grease. I bought a new one but also got a boot for inner and outer from IPD. One evening I was felt like it I took it apart and marvelled at the engineering in there, after cleaning it up. it took me a few days to take it all apart and get thoroughly cleaned out but eventually got it greased up and back together, its now a spare part on the trophy wall.

I'm not super happy with my new axle, there is some vibration on right turns when giving some gas, might be I'll go back to my spare next time I take that side apart since it was so easy. I think the original, even with my fix, is better than the after market. GIven how fast it was to get new, put back in and how long it took me to clean CV joint I'm glad I went that way, all in all it was $120 for new axle and driving in 2 hours.

Probably should have taken pictures of taking the boots off but there are a few videos online for BMW and such that look identical to mine.

[GBS]

Not sure what the etiquette is on reviving my own thread from 2014 but I thought it relevant.

After running on a rebuild axle since 2014 and having small vibrations when turning, I've now swapped back to the one I rebuild, no vibrations! I replaced it in under an hour by removing the two shock absorber bolts, the end link and turning wheel hard right. I wish I'd just rebuilt it myself instead of getting a rebuilt from store. Re-grease it yourself, its a bit more work but cheaper and in this case better too.

[cn90]

Bumping an old thread so others can read...

If your factory axles Tripod and Outer CV Boots are not damaged yet, reboot them (using only GKN rubber boots) bc factory axle is the best.

Aftermarket axles are a gamble...

[Blacklab467]

Good thing you kept the old one and rebooted it. I cringe to think how many serviceable GKN axles have been thrown out due to misdiagnosis or split boots!