Replaced the front wheel (hub) bearing on my 1999 Bravada yesterday. Couldn't leave well enough alone so I decided to replace the front shocks. I couldn't get a bolt loose, so took out the torch. Guess I heated to much, noticed to small melt points on the boot that covers the axle. probably qty 2 1/8 holes. I don't see an easy fix without removing the axle.

Any thoughts on what exposure will be if I leave the boot with two holes in it instead of replacing it?

Michael...how big are the holes?

About the width of a pencil....

You can try a rubber repair kit and see how that works. The boot keeps water and grime out of the axle and you don't want that hole to go unimpaired for very long.

THanks Kevin...

More research indicates I tore the outer CV joint boot. Looks like Dorman makes a replacement boot without removing the axle:

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...3368&ppt=C0362

WOW! Great find. Leave it to Doorman to come up with an easy button for a tough problem. Looks doable and I hope you give us a first hand experience on how it works.

Nice find! That'* a helluva lot easier than pulling the axle to replace the boot. Let us know how it works for you!

And I can't tell you the huge number of unscrupulous mechanics out there that tell people if the boot is split, the CV joint is bad and needs to be replaced.

Definitely a no go on the boot. Poorly engineered, catastrophic instructions and weak quality control in India where the boot is made.

The boot costs 50% of what an entire rebuilt axle costs. In the end, that is what I did- after doing tons of research replacing the axle seems the much more easier method than replacing the boot.