Steering & Suspension Inspection

CV Joint Boot Inspection – Don’t Wait for the Click

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A torn CV joint boot is one of the cheapest problems to fix, and one of the most expensive if you ignore it. The boot keeps grease in and dirt out. Once it tears, the grease flings out and dirt gets in, and the CV joint fails within weeks. This guide shows how to inspect CV boots on any front-wheel-drive car.

What the driver feels

  1. Grease splattered on the inside of the front wheel or brake rotor
  2. A clicking or knocking sound when turning at low speed
  3. A clunk when accelerating or decelerating in a turn
  4. The front axle looks greasy when you look through the wheel
  5. A vibration that gets worse under acceleration
  6. A rubber boot that looks cracked or torn on the drive axle
  7. The car makes a grinding noise in turns
  8. The front end vibrates at highway speed

On a 2014 Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla or Nissan Altima, the outer CV boot cracks after 8 to 10 years. The outer boot takes the most heat and flex because it turns with the steering. Once torn, the grease slings out onto the brake rotor and suspension. Dirt and water enter the joint, which wears the needle bearings and causes the clicking sound.

On rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive cars, the inner CV boots also tear, especially on cars that see snow and salt. On a 2015 Subaru Outback or Ford Fusion AWD, the rear CV boots can crack around 100,000 miles. Catching a torn boot early means a $30 boot replacement; waiting means a $300-$500 new axle.

How to inspect it

Safety note: Always set the parking brake and chock the wheels before getting under the vehicle. Use rated jack stands, never rely on a jack alone.

  • Turn the front wheels fully to the side to expose the outer CV boot.
  • Look at the rubber boot for cracks, tears or split seams. Even a small tear means replacement.
  • Feel for grease on the inside of the wheel, brake rotor or strut. Grease means the boot has torn.
  • Check the inner CV boot where the axle meets the transaxle. It is harder to see but just as important.
  • On AWD cars, check the rear axle CV boots too.
  • Squeeze the boot gently. It should be firm and flexible, not hard and cracked.
  • Look at the boot clamps. Rusty clamps can cut into the boot and cause a leak.

Repair and replacement advice

  • Catch a torn boot early: replace just the boot ($50-$100) and repack the joint with fresh grease.
  • If the joint already clicks when turning, the CV joint is worn and the whole axle needs replacement.
  • Boot clamps should be replaced with new stainless clamps; reuse of old clamps causes leaks.
  • On high-mileage cars, replace both axles at once to save labor.
  • After replacing a boot, wipe off all the old grease from the wheel and brakes.

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