Mercury 5L8Z-3A331-AA Boot

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First of all, the steering wheel should be rocked to detect excessive free play in various components, symptoms such as body movement and swaying should be observed, shock absorbers should be evaluated, steering shafts and gears should also be inspected, loose bolts should be checked for, and broken parts too. Also, steering components need to be tested, ball joints and suspension arm bushings ought to be assessed, further, the CV Boot should be inspected for damages.

You can evaluate shock absorbers by pushing down and releasing the vehicle at each corner. Observe whether the vehicle returns to a level position within one or two bounces and listen for any squeaks. Inspect the shocks for fluid leakage and ensure they are securely mounted and undamaged.

During the inspection phase, old grease is removed from the outer race and the tripod bearing assembly. Each section of the tripod assembly is carefully disassembled and cleaned with solvent. The rollers, tripod, bearings, and outer race are inspected for scoring, pitting, or abnormal wear. If any issues are found, it may necessitate the replacement of the inner CV joint.

The removal of the inner CV joint and boot involves cutting off the boot clamps, pulling the boot back from the joint, and sliding the joint housing off. It's important to mark the relationship between the tripod and the outer race. Next, a center punch is used to mark the tripod and axleshaft to ensure proper reassembly. The stop-ring ends are spread apart, moved towards the shaft's center, and the retainer clip is removed from the axleshaft end. The tripod joint is driven off the driveaxle with a brass punch and hammer, ensuring the bearing surfaces or the shaft's splines are not damaged. The stop-ring is then removed from the axleshaft and discarded.