Actually, they do make "Band-Aids" for them. I know Autozone sells a repair kit. Not sure I would recommend it for a car I planned to keep, though. We picked one up (and never used it) for my son'* Taurus. Comes with a "cover boot", a couple of clamps, and some grease.

SPEEDI-BOOT QUICK BOOT - CV for a 1992 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE

Learn something new everyday. Thanks John...

I would compare total cost of replacing the axle with total cost of replacing the boot. Labor charges for about an hour to swap out the boot might be more than the axle replacement.

Let me stress, unless you know for a fact that the CV Joint is still all clean and good, I'm not sure the quick repair is a good idea.

But, I also know how it is to be on a budget and only being able to afford "Good enough for now"

Thanks for the idea of the Quick Boot from AutoZone MOS.
I've done some reading-around and have found that most mechanics feel its better just to have the whole half axle replaced rather than just the boot. I have to agree since God only knows what impurities have gotten into my joint now since its practically wide open, and just trying to replace the boot at this point may be a waste.

Semi-good news is I've read that a warning sign of the axle going on its way out is hearing a clicking sound when turning. I haven't yet that sound yet {knocks on wood} so i think i have a little more time.

Nevertheless, I'm gonna start calling around to find some good prices...

Thanks for the info

if my car came back from the shop with a cracked fender somebody would be getting a new arshole torn, no matter how old the car is if it wasnt like that when it went in it shouldnt come back like that,

ToastedOats did a longevity test on his CV joint. After the boot split and grease splattered...he drove a year before it got bad.

well that makes me feel a little better. I was reading on another forum how one member said that the wheel could just break off as a result from the axle locking up. I started to picture that happening with highway speeds involved I def don't wanna take it to that point
But yeah, seems like i do have some time to play with - which is good. From the pics above you can tell that the break was recent as the grease stain there looks pretty fresh...I still want to get it taken care of ASAP. I'll probably post some price quotes for future reference if anyone'* interested

Wheel shouldn't break off. If the axle got worse..the typical failure would be for the axle to break... which would make it so your car wouldn't move because all the power would go to broken axle

My car'* been jacked up, and I've got no fender crack.

That'* because jacking doesn't cause it