CV Boot

It is clamped at both ends. Split boots are available for repairs without removing the shaft. Boots age and crack over time. Inspect boots at every service; small cracks in the folds are the first warning. Replacement boots come with the correct grease, and the clamps need special pliers. Universal stretch boots exist, but the original type usually lasts longer.

It flexes with the joint while sealing it.

Grease sprayed around the wheel arch is a sign of a torn boot. A torn boot left too long leads to a worn joint.