F430 Broke Down- CV Spewing Grease - Replace or Repair

Hi All,

2005 F430, 24k miles.

I noticed smoke in the engine bay so immediately pulled over. It’s grease from the CV on the rear driver side half shaft. I am taking the under tray off now to further assess.

Should I just order a whole new axle or is there a o-ring or hondabond/gasket maker solution here?

Thanks!
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Start with this

https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/cv-axle-rebuild-anyone.508454/

 

I don’t think mine is leaking from behind the rubber boot. It’s leaking behind the metal plate, then following the bolts all the way through. I’ll know more when I take it off tomorrow.

 

Maybe the bolts are loose? Seems odd to be leaking otherwise

 

Yes! The bolts were actually quite loose…. 1/3 were finger loose 1/3 required just a pound of pressure with a 6” handle. The rest were snug.

Cleaned. It’s leaking between the plates, then migrates along the bolts, where it leaks at top and bottom of bolt. I don’t understand the assembly of this; could the loose bolts not have been sealing the assembly plate enough?
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Are you sure loose bolts could cause this? If so, I’m guessing that’s the cause.

Second thought, do I need to add grease?

 

My friend ROn made this a few years ago - this may help you see how it goes together etc

 

Can you share the raw URL and/or name of video? It’s saying broken link for me. Thank you for sharing!

 

see if this works

 

Fantastic video and he’s got a great looking F430, looks like quality work. I’ll just rebuild them both for preventative maintenance.

 

Here is another video if anyone else needs reference:

 

Yes, that looks like just loose bolts to me. Those are known to come loose over time.

However, your boot is just starting to balloon, so I'd plan on a boot replacement soon, depending how much you drive your car. The axles and CV joints will outlive you if they never get water or dirt in the grease. The replacement kit from Ferrari comes with both boots, clamps, end caps and 2 tubes of grease.

 

Why would a boot swell? Excess heat? Maybe a symptom of a greater problem.

 

It's mostly age. The rubber eventually thins with constant rotation and the boot starts to lose it's accordian shape. After rotating out of shape, they will eventually tear and you'll lose your grease. As long as it's caught in time, it's a simple boot replacement. They will typically balloon just before they break.

 

Fantastic explanation! Thanks

 

The larger OEM hose clamp on mine seemed to loosen up and was spewing grease as well. There's no way to tighten it, unfortunately. I ended up replacing it with an Oetiker clamp. Problem solved!

 

There are many other reasons as well. First I've heard of the boot ballooning from "thinning" but I'm not a mechanic either. It could be overpacked or the small end could have been cinched too far down the axle shaft. Either way, if it's permanently deformed, it should be replaced. If it springs back to the normal shape once you've removed the straps, I'd run it.

 

The boot likes fine to me. The crease just needs popping back into shape.

 

The bolts if tightened correctly never come loose and the boots distort from heat. Someone has had it apart and caused this. Also CV joints get stuffed with too much grease (more is not better) all the time and spewing out is caused by that as well. Take it apart, clean it, replace the boot, repack with correct amount of grease and properly tighten the bolts. Fixed.

 

What’s considered too m

what’s too much grease? Did normal guy super car (video above) use too much? It seemed like a lot.

I could also see how excess grease causes boot to sweep and eventually crack due to the force of that grease in there while it’s spinning.

 

Umm no.

There is a spec for grease quantity. Typically out of ignorance people use too much.

 

Here is the kit. 70000868. Same part number and half the cost if labeled “Maserati.”

I’ve rebuilt plenty of u-joint drive and half shafts; looking forward to doing this one.
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I don't think I would have called a leaking CV boot a broken down Ferrari.......

 

I towed it home due to a lot of smoke from the grease going onto the test pipes. Which I’m guessing could ignite too. I’d say that was justifiable / smart to tow.