If you are in serious car trouble and have identified the problem to be a faulty CV joint, then you are up for an immediate meet-up with your trusted mechanic. Be ready to go on a trip to the nearest machine shop too. So, how much does CV joint replacement cost?
You would know you have to replace the CV joint when there are clicking sounds when you accelerate and turn when driving. When this happens and the safety is at risk, you want to call for help right away.
This replacement actually means the same as putting an entirely new axle shaft especially if it is already too worn out. If this is the case, you can purchase a new axle shaft at around $150 – $600. The cost of CV boot replacement varies depending on the vehicle’s model and type, and the degree of damage to the joint.
If your vehicle is among one of the luxury cars, expect that the CV boot repair price will be higher and will play around $600 – $1,200 or even more.
Common Reasons for CV Joint Breakage
One of the main reasons why a CV joint breaks is a grease leak. Since the grease works as a lubricant to the connection of the joint, if it runs out, then the boot runs dry and solid materials will enter, making it even more damaged.
Checking for Damage
There might be an instance when your vehicle’s CV boot is not entirely damaged and does not require a replacement. This is where the expertise of your mechanic comes in handy. You would not want to pay for new parts if the original ones are not that disfigured and can still work. If it only needs a quick repair then you can just pay for your mechanic’s usual labor fees.
Now you have to keep in mind that there are different ways that mechanics charge their fees. Some charge by the hour, meaning you need to make sure that the turnaround time by which you have your gears fixed should be short so that you won’t have to pay much. On the other hand, some mechanics charge a fixed price. This may be a little higher than usual, but the advantage is that you do not have to worry about the time running.
However, if it can no longer be fixed because of too much wear and tear and overuse, you will need to spend a few more bucks for the replacement. But first, you or your mechanic should check if the damage is evenly distributed on both sides. This is to assess whether you need a single replacement or a double replacement.
What Mechanics Usually Charge
It is always better to have your own trusted mechanic, but if you have none, here is a good summary of the estimated CV boot repair prices.
On average, if you are to ask for both the parts and the labor, a single replacement would cost around $190 – $327 while a double replacement would cost around $352 – $620.
Other Cost Lists and Where to Purchase
There are a number of known machine shops scattered around the different cities, so it may be time for you to turn back to the yellow pages or enter your query in Google. To give you a brief idea, the following are few of the top auto repair shops that offer good deals, for your reference:
Midas auto repair shop charges on both parts and labor fees at $214 – $424 for a single replacement and $390 – $799 and for a double replacement.
NAPA Auto Parts charges $168 – $614 for a single replacement and $235 – $1,178 for a double replacement. These rates are inclusive of both the parts and the mechanic labor fees.
Pep Boys store sell the same parts for $96 – $143 for a single replacement and $187 – $276 for a double replacement.
In most Walmart stores you can find these motor parts and only pay around $80 – $168 for a single side and $149 – $318 for both sides.
You can always go to these machine shops to personally pick out your own gears, but, of course, there are a lot more options that offer more convenience. There are always motor parts on retail that are ready for online orders like that of eBay.
If you prefer to assemble the entire set on your own, you may also purchase the tiny parts individually. There are also available parts in Amazon. For a single side, you need to pay only $91 – $214. For both the left and right sides, you need to pay only $171 – $399.
Other Tips for Purchase
If you are up for an instant repair and want to save time going to the shop, there is also an available online mechanic service ready to help you. Here, you only have to register by giving your basic information. Once your account is created, you can shop for what you need and get a quotation to know the cost of CV boot replacement. Your location will be significant for the fees.
Fortunately for all of us, almost all auto repair shops now offer online shopping services. With just one click and a preferred payment method, your vehicle can already get the quick fix that it needs. It also works on a lot of advantages. For instance, you can put your orders even when you are out of the country.
Remember that it is an assembly service, so you have to be meticulous in choosing the individual parts. This means you need to check the specifications of each. But anyway, you can always ask for the experts’ help by sending them a message. Also, the point of the service is to have the mechanic over to your house to help with the actual assembly.
So if you do worry on how much does CV joint cost, worry no more. There is an accessible help.