99 Rodeo CV Boot and Ball Joint Question

JIMMYC

MEMBER
1999 ALL OTHER MAKES ALL OTHER MODELS

My '99 Rodeo 4x4 has 136,000 miles on it. It is all stock with no lift kits or other. I noticed that the outer CV boots are cracking a bit, but only on the inner creases of the boot. They have not cracked all the way through, are only pulling apart a bit. I was wondering how long it normally takes to go from this cracking to splitting apart all the way?

Also, further inspection revealed the the boot for the lower ball joints is cracked all the way through. I know if the CV boot is cracked that is bad news, does the same hold true for the ball joint?

Thanks for any advice.

-Jim :wink:

2 Replies

KEN L

MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
42,909 POSTS

Yes, any dust boot that is torn can let dirt in the joint or axle and will cause the part to fail.

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Wednesday, January 4th, 2006 AT 1:45 PM

JOUGH626

MECHANIC
55 POSTS

GREAT! Now that you have found a potentionaly sit-on-the-side-of-road problem, fix it before it becomes that. My advice to you is change all the ball joints and both cv joints, your going to have to rip everything apart to change the ball joints, so just change it all.