# Civic Coupe 98. LF Axle replace or just a new boot? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** civic, honda\ **Created:** [December 4, 2012, 9:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/civic-coupe-98-lf-axle-replace-or-just-a-new-boot/75927 "2012-12-04T21:38:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gord777](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ea666f/32.png) [@Gord777](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Gord777)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 9:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/civic-coupe-98-lf-axle-replace-or-just-a-new-boot/75927/1 "2012-12-04T21:38:34Z")
Last time was told need a new RF axle and got by with just a new boot. Now same thing on left side. Mechanic says the boot is torn and losing grease. I can hear a creaking from that side. Car has 150K miles. Estimate $120 parts + $70 labour. Are they trying to sell unnecessary work or am I being too suspicious? ---
**Author:** ![common-sense-answer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/common-sense-answer/32/716_2.png) [@common-sense-answer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/common-sense-answer)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 10:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/civic-coupe-98-lf-axle-replace-or-just-a-new-boot/75927/2 "2012-12-04T22:06:20Z")
**_“Estimate $120 parts + $70 labour.”_** Is this for a boot or axle replacement ? _ **CSA** _ ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 11:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/civic-coupe-98-lf-axle-replace-or-just-a-new-boot/75927/3 "2012-12-04T23:24:44Z")
If you’re hearing noise, the joint has been damaged. You need to replace the CV joint, which means a new axle. That price sounds pretty reasonable for the job. Acutally, I just replace the axle any time I find a torn boot. By the time I’ve paid someone to remove the boot, clean the joint, and put the new boot on, I’ve paid for a good portion of the cost of replacing the whole axle, and I have to wonder if the joint got contaminated with road grit and will go bad. Seems pointless to me. ---
**Author:** ![RemcoW](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/remcow/32/2471_2.png) [@RemcoW](https://community.cartalk.com/u/RemcoW)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 11:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/civic-coupe-98-lf-axle-replace-or-just-a-new-boot/75927/4 "2012-12-04T23:46:33Z")
Totally agree with @Shadowfax. Just replace the entire half shaft. ---
**Author:** ![keith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/keith/32/5518_2.png) [@keith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keith)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2012, 12:21am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/civic-coupe-98-lf-axle-replace-or-just-a-new-boot/75927/5 "2012-12-05T00:21:18Z")
Agree with the above but add, get a NEW aftermarket axle, not a remanufactured axle. The new aftermarket axles are only a few dollars more than a reman and well worth it. They are no where near the cost of a new Honda axle. My preference is EMPI. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2012, 12:48am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/civic-coupe-98-lf-axle-replace-or-just-a-new-boot/75927/6 "2012-12-05T00:48:31Z")
Totally agree with Shadow and Keith. ---
**Author:** ![KnnNike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/50afbb/32.png) [@KnnNike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/KnnNike)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2012, 1:01am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/civic-coupe-98-lf-axle-replace-or-just-a-new-boot/75927/7 "2012-12-05T01:01:42Z")
I disagree with Keith; I’d rather have a reman’d OEM axle than a new aftermarket one. A lot of the new axles come from Cardone, and I’ve had bad luck with them on a lot of different items. ---
**Author:** ![keith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/keith/32/5518_2.png) [@keith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keith)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2012, 1:12am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/civic-coupe-98-lf-axle-replace-or-just-a-new-boot/75927/8 "2012-12-05T01:12:27Z")
Try EMPI axles. They have been good to me. ---
**Author:** ![Gord777](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ea666f/32.png) [@Gord777](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Gord777)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2012, 9:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/civic-coupe-98-lf-axle-replace-or-just-a-new-boot/75927/9 "2012-12-05T21:03:38Z")
Thanks for your quick, informative and useful replies. The mechanic said the same thing, given the labour involved better to replace the axle. I live in Montreal (Canada) and the roads are something out of the 3rd world. Front ends get a pounding.