Bad CV Boot -- Now What?

[Clive]

I had the Subaru in for its 60,000-mile service the second week of October.  Got new brakes all around, new clutch, and they replaced a leaking CV boot somewhere (receipt doesn't specify which of the four was replaced).  Upon getting the car back, it's had this light burnt smell after driving it -- kinda like brake pads bedding in or maybe a new clutch getting seated.  So I've noted it and moved on.

Well, we just drove two hours to my in-laws, pulled into the driveway, opened the door, and ... OMG, it reeks!  I popped the hood and there's smoke coming from the engine.  I look more closely, and I spy (with my little eye) that the source of it is the front passenger-side CV boot, which is cracked and has been spewing its grease onto the exhaust manifold heat shield and other engine surfaces.  (The crack, for those who care, is about two inches long and on the portion of the boot facing directly upward.)

The grease spattered from it feels smooth, without any gritty contamination.  It also looks like good grease -- i.e., no water contamination or breakdown.  But ... now what?  I need to drive another two hours of interstate to get home, and I'll have my wife and child aboard.  The CV joint itself isn't making any noise (popping, clunking, grinding, humming, etc.), so I'm pretty sure it's fine right now.

I'm inclined to drive it home so I can take it to the Subaru dealer that serviced it (I've read that conventional wisdom = if replacing one, replace at least both at that end).  But I don't need the joint to fail catastrophically, especially with family in the car.  I can't find a place that can take me today, and everything's closed tomorrow.

Thoughts?

[gleek]

[spacey]

I'm guessing it will involve a wrench or some kind of specialty tool. Hope this helps.

[gleek]

I'm guessing it will involve a wrench or some kind of specialty tool. Hope this helps.

You're gonna need some pliers and a set of 30-weight ball bearings.

[tdcoly]

Sorry for the long link:

http://townhall-talk.edmu....com/WebX?14@@.f0da0bb/44!keywords=allin%3Amsgtext%20limit%3A.f0fe3a2%20cv%20boot

Better safe than sorry, although I don't believe the failure would be "catastrophic."  Probably just get real noisy.

Where's MFAWG when you need him.

[Clive]

Oh, it gets better and better.

We drive two hours home, going the speed limit the whole way.  (OMG, that was painful!)  Pull into the driveway, pop the hood, and there's no smoke, little smell.  The split in the boot is twice what it was, but I can see *some* grease still in there.

I dawdle over to the Subaru dealer this AM in full-on Clive-the-Prick Mode.  (No, that is not the default setting, thanks.)  And the dealer is GONE!  No cars, empty showroom, signs down, completely barren building.  A small paper in the window announces that they're now some other Subaru dealer 20 miles away (bought out, methinks).  I doubt the old tech and especially service manager have transferred to the new dealership, so I highly doubt I'm going to get much sympathy there.

Icing on the automotive cake: in my surprise, I initially drive past the place.  So I make a quick left into a church parking lot to loop around and come back.  Turn the wheel hard right and hear a grinding sound coming from the front suspension, not unlike the grinding sound described as belonging to a bad CV joint.  If true, that turns my $175 repair into an ~$800 repair.

I'm not in a good mood.  I think I'll head over to FGI and moderate the *fudge* out of somebody.

[Spanky]

I could venture over there and give you a target. Just for grins.

[Fuzzy]

That sucks. Did you get the service manager's name?

Maybe full-on Clive-the-Prick could write a well crafted letter to someone at Subaru somewhere. 

Nothing will probably happen but you might feel better for at least a bit.

[PaunchyBald]

I'm not in a good mood.  I think I'll head over to FGI and moderate the *fudge* out of somebody.

I could provide a few names for moderation with exteme prejudice.   



























Seriously.

[spacey]

If you need to borrow a wrench, let me know. I've got a couple.

[Blader]

If you would have posted this BEFORE you took off for the initial visit, I could've helped you.

But what occurred subsequently was entirely predictable.

Shame on you

[gleek]

Icing on the automotive cake: in my surprise, I initially drive past the place.  So I make a quick left into a church parking lot to loop around and come back.  Turn the wheel hard right and hear a grinding sound coming from the front suspension, not unlike the grinding sound described as belonging to a bad CV joint.  If true, that turns my $175 repair into an ~$800 repair.

Serves you right for using a church parking lot to flip a bitch. Jesus most definitely doesn't love you.