How Much Does Replacing a CV Boot Cost?

$ Professional Replacement (CV boot+axle): $150-$600 (one side)

$ $ Professional Replacement (CV boot+axle): $300-$900 (both sides)

$ $ $ Luxury Replacement (CV boot+axle): $600-$1,200 (one side)

Every front-wheel-drive vehicle and some four-wheel or rear-wheel drive vehicles have CV boots.

CV boots have an important role to play for the constant velocity axle (CV axle) that transmits power from the engine and transmission to the wheels.

Each axle has two joints, and the CV boot is a protective boot made from rubber or plastic that protects each CV joint individually.

Table of Contents

Why Are CV Boots Important?
What’s The Lifespan Of A CV Boot?
What Are The Symptoms Of A Damaged CV Boot?
What Affects Replacement Costs Of A CV Boot?
Top Companies
Things To Consider

Why Are CV Boots Important?

The CV boot not only protects the CV joints from outside elements like debris and dirt.

They also keep the CV joint lubricated with grease by keeping the grease surrounding the joint.

Also, they have an accordion shape which allows them to compress and stretch along with the suspension and steering movements while still protecting the CV joints.

A broken or damaged boot is not able to protect the CV joints properly, usually leading to premature wear and damage due to the lack of lubrication or due to corrosion, ultimately causing damage to the CV axle.

What’s The Lifespan Of A CV Boot?

A CV boot in good shape can last 80,000 to 100,000 miles, which is the recommended miles range for doing service.

But CV boots can last less due to certain facts like driving habits or forgetting to give them proper maintenance.

The principal thing people notice when the CV boot has worn out is a leakage; if you happen to notice one, then you should hurry to replace the CV boot as quickly as possible to avoid major problems.

Driving with a damaged CV boot is possible, but the possible consequences of doing it are not worth the risk.

What Are The Symptoms Of A Damaged CV Boot?

To know if a CV boot is damaged or broken, there are a few symptoms to be aware of:

Grease leak.
Vibrations from the CV axle.
Clicking noise during turns.

You can read more about these symptoms in this article made by Your Mechanic.

But sometimes, it’s difficult to know how long a CV boot has been damaged, and due to the level of compromise and damage the CV joints and CV axle can receive, many mechanics recommend changing the CV axle as well.

What Affects Replacement Costs Of A CV Boot?

Many factors affect the final costs of replacing a CV boot, like the type, year, make, and model of your vehicle, where you take your car for the job, and if the replacement part is from an OEM or an aftermarket auto part.

Usually, the professional replacement of a CV boot means replacing the axle/shaft, which can cost $150 to $600 per CV boot.

Replacing the CV boot and axle is more expensive for luxury vehicles, and prices can go from $600 to $1,200 or more per CV boot.

There are cases where the boot and axle are replaced on just one side, but they typically are replaced in pairs.

So, the final price for replacing the axle and boot from both sides can go from $300 to $900 in regular vehicles.

There also exist DIY CV boot kits that can save money and usually cost $5 to $50, depending on your car’s model what’s needed.

And, for saving purposes, many recommend changing the axle instead of just the boot, which can cost $50 to $150 or more.

Top Companies

You can get the CV boot and axle replaced at dealerships and auto repair shops like Midas and Pep Boys.

And CV boots and CV boot kits are available at online retailers like Amazon, Auto Parts Warehouse, and Advance Auto Parts.

Company	CV boot kit price range
Advance Auto Parts	$9 – $270
Amazon	$8 – $125
CarParts.com	$6 – $90

Things To Consider

Before Buying

First, check your car owner’s manual to know the manufacturer’s recommended service time for your CV boot and axle.
If you have already experienced some of the signs of a bad CV boot or leaks, then it’s time to replace them.
Check the repair shops near you that offer this service to compare prices and see what’s included in the service. Many shops include a wheel alignment.
If the axle wasn’t compromised, then you could only replace the CV boot, which is less expensive.

When Buying

It’s easy to know when the CV boot is damaged because there will be a leak or seepage around the CV boot once on a lift.
The mechanic will tell you if the axle was compromised due to the CV boot being damaged for a long time.
The wheel and lower ball joint will be removed to remove the CV axle.
The CV joints should be inspected too, and the leak should be cleaned out before applying new lubricant.
The CV boot replacement is a straightforward process that many car owners could realize as DIY. Here’s a video by Erich The Car Guy that shows how to replace a CV boot.

After Buying

Many recommend doing a wheel alignment after replacing the CV boot and axle. Many shops include it in the replacement service, but if not, a wheel alignment can cost up to $100 in a tire or auto repair shop.

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Giovanna Soto

Price Specialist at Costopedia

Hi there! My name is Giovanna and I’m a Med Student from Venezuela. My not-so-hidden passion for writing and research lead me to start working as a freelancer in 2016, and it’s been quite an interesting journey ever since. Speaking three languages (Spanish, English, and Italian) also contributed a lot by opening many doors for me in this field. I love to write my articles the way I would love to read them, full of interesting and true facts about the topic, and easy to read and follow, making them valuable for anyone out there. I like my job as a freelancer because I get to try and learn new skills with each new job, so I’m always excited to start new projects and for what’s next.