how easy is it to replace the cv gaiter?

[yellowt5r]

cant find the pick on here. the gaiter with the metal can around it. mine is split and is due for the mot on fri so need to get it fixed. just wondered is it a very hard job?

[jack daniels]

If its an Espace JE then it looks like it's doable at home. take off the wheel , brake disk and the big driveshaft/wheel bearing retainer nut.
take out the 2 bolts that go thru the lower shock absorber, possibly the lower ball joint will have to be disconnected too, without damaging the ball joint gaiter.
Push the drive shaft out of the hub, maybe you'll need a pushing/extractor tool, mine came out OK recently without any tools. The manuals say use loctite so it is possible it'll be glued in place.
The drive shaft should come apart after you take off the gaiter. Probably best to replace both gaitors.
Clean it up on the outside with a wire brush before you take off the gaitors so no crap gets in there.
Maybe if your gaitor is cracked the joint will need a cleanup ia a chemical bath anyway and then new grease.

New driveshafts are available via internet for about £200, wheel bearings for about £60. If the wheel bearing has more than 100,000km  or is more than about 6 years old then I'd replace that too while it's all apart. I have used narrow 102mm dia stainless steel hose clips om my outer gaitors

[yellowt5r]

right ok thanks for that, how do you remove the coller?

[jack daniels]

the coller? if you mean the gaitor, then there are 2 metal bands. If you are sure that you are going to replace the gaitor then just cut the retaining bands off with a dremel cutter. The large one is not so strong so you can use a chisel or a punch on the joint of the band. spray WD-40 on the small end so that the rubber will slide better.

Now that I think about it, you'll probably have to take off the bearing assembly also to get the gaitor off. I dont have access to any renault drawings this week, but that's the part on the right in this photo. It may be a good idea to get the correct diagram from dialogys before you start. A dealer should print it out for free.

what model of espace do you have?

[chewbacca]

Depending which model you have,mine is a 2000  2.2dt, so assuming that and anything after. The nearside driveshaft inboard boot,the one at the gearbox, is actually the seal to the gearbox,so if it's the n/s outboard boot your replacing be carefull you dont let the shaft drop or be pulled out  too far  or you could end up with the contents of your gearbox on the ground if you disturb the gaiter.

Kind Regards