GM 15269918
Boot Kit, Front

Upon replacing wheel drive shaft inboard boot before cutting through it don't cut through it and risk to damage sealing surface and tripot bushing. First of all, detach the swage ring from the shaft with a hand grinder paying attention not to damage the shaft. Cut off the large seal retaining clamp from the tripot joint using side cutters, and get rid of it. Remove the inboard boot from the trilobal tripot bushing at the big diameter and remove the boot from the joint off the shaft. Descalze the housing from the tripot joint spider and the shaft. Spread the spacer ring with J 8059 (or equivalent) and remove the spacer ring, spider assembly, spacer ring if equipped, with J 8059 and discarding the tripot boot plus rings. Clean the shaft using a wire brush to get rid of the rust in the boot mounting region and check the state of the needle rollers, bearings and trunnion for wear or destruction and repair any destroyed pieces with the right kit. For the installation, the shaft can be mounted into a vise, with a towel wrapped in it. Attach the new small eared clamp to the small end of the joint boot and slide both over the shaft, having the small end of the joint boot in the joint seal groove on the shaft. Crimp the eared clamp by the use of J 35910, torque wrench and breaker bar. If available, set the spacer ring into the groove of the shaft using J 8059 and slide the tripot joint spider assembly onto the shaft. Fit the spacer ring into the groove of shaft with J 8059 and plug half the grease of service kit on the shaft inboard boot, applying the rest to repack the housing. Make sure that the trilobal tripot bushing is flush with the face of the housing prior to its installation. Position the larger new seal retaining clamp on the shaft inboard boot and slidethe housing over the tripot joint spider assembly on the shaft. Slide the large diameter of the shaft inboard boot with the larger clamp in place over the trilobal, tripot bushing with boot lip in the groove. Place the joint assembly in its correct vehicle dimension "a = 106mm (4.00in)", carefully insert a thin flat blunt tool between the large boot opening and the triloal tripot bushing and then equalize the pressure before removing the tool. Line up the shaft inboard boot, tripot housing, and the large boot retaining clamp by latching it, then crimp the boot retaining clamp with J 35910 to 176 N.m (130 lb ft), using breaker bar and torque wrench , to the J 35910 if necessary. Inspect the gap dimension (a) on the clamp ear, tighten till the 2.6 mm (0.102 in) if larger. Finally, stroke the joint completely multiple times to distribute the grease.

Remove the seal from the bar and gently tap on the CV joint cage with a brass drift and hammer to remove all chrome alloy balls.

Remove the axle shaft retaining ring and the seal from the axle shaft, then clean all components thoroughly with solvent and air dry.

Separate the inboard seal from the tripot bushing and slide it away from the joint along the wheel drive shaft bar.

Remove the small seal clamp from the wheel drive shaft bar using side cutters and discard it.

Secure the outboard end of the halfshaft assembly in tool J 41048, aligning the boot neck with the bottom die, and ensure no pinch points exist before inserting and tightening the bolts by hand until snug.

Slide the outboard boot away from the CV joint outer race.

Install the boot and the clamp on the wheel drive shaft.