alright, the axle boot on my 88 GL is cracked and probably should be replaced in a little while. i have heard the pop noise once or twice when going forward after reversing. the boot on my new 89 GL parts car has no cracks and appears to be in good shape. the car doesn't run, so i have no idea if it pops or anything.

 

a. is it somewhat safe to assume that a car with a good boot has a good axle, other than the obvious that the boot may have been replaced on a bad axle.

 

b. is there any way to test an axle's integrity without driving the car?

 

c. would it be worth the work to switch out the axles rather than just ordering a new axle and knowing the integrity and paying more?

usually, if the boot is good, the axle is good, but I think $89 for a new, warrantied axle is worth it. Ive been down both paths, so I would recomend the new axle, if you can afford it. Otherwise the used will probably hold up until you have suffeciant funds for a new one.

thanks. ya, thats what i figured, to replace two axles instead of one and not be sure if its a good axle seems like more of a pain in the rump roast than necessary when i can get a warrantied one when i really need it.

 

also, i got your PM about the fan shroud, ive been kind of busy so i haven't responded. how much do you want for it? and were talking about the engine fan shroud and not the radiator fan shroud right? i need the engine fan shroud.

 

kenny

You can tell if an axle is really bad by checking for torsional play.... you shouldn't be able to feel any (or at least very little) in a reasonable axle. Apart from that, there is not much that you can tell by inspection....

I have better success rebooting my old axles that are good than messing with the remanufactored axles if that is what you are considering. Over the years I have recieved the wrong axle, an axle that didn't even have the DOJ in the cup and axles that had bad DOJs out the box. I have three good front axles that I just reboot, regrease and swap. I would opt for pulling the axle off your non running car myself.

axles that had bad DOJs out the box.

 

Not quite right out of the box, but 15,000 miles later, my new right front axle has a DOJ that is crap -- the boot is still great, but sometimes you can grab the axle and slide it in and out, like some retaining thing fell off in the DOJ -- only the CV joint on the inside is supposed to slide in and out I think.... It vibrates pretty bad under load, and sometimes I have to stick it in 4wd to go up a hill on the highway. Got another new axle in the back.

 

Z