Hey guys, I was underneath my car looking at some stuff when I came across an unusually straight line of grease on the areas surrounding the CV joint on the passenger side of the vehicle ('92 EX 2.2L MT 4 door). I took some pictures and the links are below. I smudged some of it with my thumb as you can see in the pictures, but other than that it was a straight line (as straight as you can get on the underside of a car). The only conclusion I can come up with is that it's spraying out of a common area which would create that line. I don't know what it is, and I'd appreciate any help I can get!


https://i.imgur.com/PTElX.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/6zcoJ.jpg

 

here let me help you get help cause clicking on links sucks -- IMO

 

ALSO - You CV boot is leaking. You could try replacing the outer clamp (one closest to teh wheel)
If you do not fix this soon you will have a failed CV Joint at some point in the future.

 

thanks for the reply! Is it the inner or the outer? Out of curiosity, how can you tell the CV boot is leaking? Cause of the grease?

 

yes that is cv grease.
Which cv, well look under the car and whichever one is directly under the where the grease is splattered is the one that is leaking.

You really have 2 choices and neither are very expensive

1) take it to a small shop that does a lot of axles and see if they would reclamp the one that is leaking for you. I wouldn't think that they should charge you more than $20 as it is a $.25 part and will only take about 2 mins to replace

2) buy a boot replacment kit from an auto parts store. They come with a split boot and a package of grease. However they are hit or miss. Some people install them and they work great forever, some people install them and they leak quickly.

I have never used one before but have a leaking boot on an off road buggy of mine and plan on installing the split boot kit before Spring.

FYI - I am sure someone would say this if I didn't

The proper way to fix your problem is to remove the axle, clean and inspect the cv joint, regrease, and install a factory boot.
However IMO - that will cost about as much as a whole rebuilt axle that you could easily install yourself. For me the $20 gamble is worth it. I would bet if you fix the leak asap you will get many more years of use from that cv joint.

YYMV

 

ok good to know, thanks a lot for the information. i'm gonna try the kit; found one for about 12 bucks online. by the time i'm done with this car, i'll owe my first born to this forum.

 

I don't trust the split boots - don't want them to split back open. It's a bit more work, but I like using the proper boots.