How Urgent is it to Replace Worn Out CV Boots

Question

I recently noticed that what I think are the inner CV boots on my 99 Nissan Almera have started coming apart:

They were still in one piece this past August when I took the car for inspection, so this is fairly recent.

How urgent is it to deal with this and what are the possible negative consequences of waiting an extended period of time, say six months, before dealing with it. I ask that because I'm anyways planning on replacing the struts before the next inspection as they've been leaking for a few months and I'm starting to feel the car is more jiggly when going over bumps.

Answer 1

From my experience of CV boots, you need to replace them immediately if you want to keep the CV joint it covers. It doesn't take long for dirt to destroy the joint once it gets inside the boot. If you leave it until the joint starts to deteriorate, then you risk failure of the joint at probably at dangerous time when the car is turning around a corner.

Answer 2

IMMEDIATELY, If it is not too late already, I have seen CVs ruined with days not weeks, by the smallest amount of sand, mud, dirt whatever getting into the joint. These are way too expensive to take the chance. I am not familiar with your model, but trying to save on labour cost doesn't usually equate to the cost of new cvs, (depending on costs in your situation).

Answer 3

you should take care that lubricating grease will go out which will cause CV damage by time.