How to Rebuild a CV Axle - Raptor & F150

This week, we rebuild out CV axles with guidance from Kevin at HM.
CV Boot:
SDHQ - sdhqoffroad.com/products/10-1...
Mold # 86390
EMPI Part # 86-2240
NAPA Link - www.napaonline.com/en/p/CVB68...
Grease: SwepCo 164 Open gear Extreme Pressure Grease (on our amazon page below)
Small Clamps: McMaster Carr - 3620 30-45mm Clamps www.mcmaster.com/5388K24
Large Clamps: Mc Master Cass - Norma Torro 3.9146° 4 5/16" W3 - www.mcmaster.com/5076K55
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www.amazon.com/shop/heliomuro
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Music: uppbeat.io/?referral=heliodor...

[@ChromesConsoles]

This reminded me of when we switched out our old CV axles on our Gen1 Raptor! It’s completely stock and it lasted well into 72,000 Miles!! I still remember how they blew and it was when we were on the freeway! Awesome video like always!!

[@KeepItDirtyOffRoad]

Thanks man. You got some good life out of them for sure.

[@threat1725]

I've watched you guys for 2 years now. Specifically when the Gen 1 videos started coming out. I watched for a year and a half or so and finally pulled the plug on a cheap one in January. I have spent hours with your videos on my phone walking me through repairs on the truck. I have never worked on a vehicle before and you have really helped. The CV axle is coming up. Will be redoing doing suspension at the same time. You guys are awesome.

[@KeepItDirtyOffRoad]

That’s awesome man. Thank you. This is the highest praise we can ever get. We started this channel to help people and enable more guys to hit the trails. Nothing more rewarding than working on your truck and using it offroad. Hope to see you on the trail soon.

[@BadV2]

Love this stuff. The fact Kevin at HM is involved is so cool! Can't beat that customer service. Whata nice guy.

[@KeepItDirtyOffRoad]

Agreed. He’s awesome and more than happy to teach and help others.

[@Blue_Flame_Raptor]

Gen 1s have big balls, always knew it😎😎

[@KeepItDirtyOffRoad]

🤣🤣

[@Samvccarroll]

Just rebuilt my Gen1 axles was much easier after doing Toyota axles for the last 5 years. Besides my diff seal splitting and removing itself with the axle, it was smooth. Good video!

[@KeepItDirtyOffRoad]

Thanks. I did not realize how easy it was. Glad I know now so I can rebuild mine going forward

[@rymccumber14]

I literally just did this on my gen 2 yesterday

[@KeepItDirtyOffRoad]

Rebuild or swap?

[@kujonyanthawa594]

what boots you use?

[@matthewnichols5503]

I also would like to know what boots

[@FreedomIsntFree2023]

Great tutorial....thanks! Have you ever done a video on shock rebuilding? Just a thought...

[@KeepItDirtyOffRoad]

I have not. Shock rebuilding while easy does require some specialized tools AND we could not cover everything required for all the common scenarios. You really want someone experienced doing it and that’s why we have not done a video on it.

[@chriswoodard8813]

I switched from Eibach to Geiser springs on my Gen1 due to blowing threw cv boots due to the Eibachs raising the truck higher than the Geisers causing more wear on the boots. I also have the IWE deletes so the axles are allways spinning. I went through 2 axles both sides in a year and since going to Geisers I have gone over two years with no CV axles boots tearing.

[@TheChicagOP]

I had an axle get siezed in the hub (on a ram) and i had to take it to a shop who said they broke several air hammer chiseles and had to buy a new massive sledgehammer to get it out. I coat all of the splines in anti sieze too now and its been a breeze

[@KeepItDirtyOffRoad]

Wow man. That’s wild. Could not imagine having to do that. Would be easier to just buy a new CV and new axle.

[@TheChicagOP]

@@KeepItDirtyOffRoad by hub I meant wheel bearing so basically you couldn't remove the cv or the wheel bearing unless you got a new spindle and replaced everything but luckily they got it out

[@user1acount]

Another great video. For rubber fittings, boots, and hoses, would giving them a soak in silicone help? From my windshield wiper understanding silicon is better than rubber, but rubber will benefit from silicone treatment.

[@KeepItDirtyOffRoad]

Not sure on that one. CVs get pretty hot under load so the rubber is designed to take a lot of heat. Not sure is silicone would help or hurt there.

[@gabrielmarquez207]

Just broke a cv axel at pismo last month on my mid travel raptor

[@KeepItDirtyOffRoad]

Did you break the CV or just tear the boot?

[@gabrielmarquez207]

Broke the whole thing I heard some noise coming from it when in 4wd but was running in 2wd most the day broke it pulling out a friend from the camp ground last day of the trip

[@KeepItDirtyOffRoad]

That sucks man. Whats the plan? Upgrade to RCvs or another extended set?

[@matthewnichols5503]

Anyone have a link for similar boots on a 2015+ f150??

[@KeepItDirtyOffRoad]

Check SDHQs website. They have several listed based on the trucks model year. The Gen2 boots are much cheaper

[@xschm1dx]

So my boot just tore. Haven’t been in dirt since. Would you say it’s easy to swap the boot or whole axle? Truck has 125k. Never been offroaded until I got it a few months ago. And mine has been mostly dirt roads haha

[@KeepItDirtyOffRoad]

So, to swap the boot, the whole axle has to come out and be rebuilt. It’s easier and cheaper to just swap the axle. Axle is $220-320 depending on your truck. And even if you do the rebuild yourself with grease and clamps your at close to $200. But also, what’s your front suspension setup that the boot ripped? A mainly daily truck should not be ripping boots so quick. I get that you’re mainly doing dirt now but that sounds like an awful short time for the boot to last.

[@xschm1dx]

@@KeepItDirtyOffRoad it’s been a Austin Texas truck it’s whole life. I’m in SoCal, corona area. I put it to mid perch 2 months ago. It wasn’t torn before that. With the age I’m assuming the mid perch angle tore it. I’m stock suspension.

[@KeepItDirtyOffRoad]

@xschm1dx ah ok. Yeah that makes sense. Old boots for sure then.

[@xschm1dx]

@@KeepItDirtyOffRoad sounds like I should just replace that axle for now and probably buy another for the other side. Are those interchangeable on both sides? I saw the pic showed Front, Right.

[@xschm1dx]

@@KeepItDirtyOffRoad also wondering if it’s worth it to upgrade the boots while it’s brand new before install haha