Mercury 5L8Z-3A331-FA Boot

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Examine suspension and steering components for loose bolts, broken parts, or deteriorated rubber bushings. Test the steering components for free movement, chafing, and binding while an assistant turns the steering wheel. Check ball joints for wear by attempting to move control arms up and down with a pry bar. Inspect ball joint boots for damage or leaking grease.

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.

When inspecting steering components, check the steering shaft's universal joint for wear, look for lubricant leakage in the steering gear housing, and examine dust seals, boots, and boot clamps for damage. Inspect the steering linkage for looseness or damage and assess tie-rod ends for excessive play. Test the steering components for free movement, chafing, and binding while an assistant turns the steering wheel.

During reassembly, a new sealing boot clamp and boot are slid onto the axleshaft, with care taken to wrap the splines with tape to prevent boot damage. A new bearing retainer clip is placed onto the axle shaft, and grease from the sealing boot kit is applied to the outer CV joint assembly housing and inside the boot. The splines on the axleshaft are aligned with the splines on the outer CV joint assembly, and the CV joint is gently driven onto the axleshaft with a soft-faced hammer. Pressure in the boot is equalized, boot clamps are tightened, and the driveaxle is installed.