My car,Renault Megan RT Alize, 1999, failed its MOT due to Drive shaft-gaiter split-offside front outer.?

Question

Is this serious and in a ballpark figure how much to fix, thanks.

Answer 1

The gaiter keeps the grease in the CV joint and swarf out of it. Although the gaiter itself isn't expensive fitting can be a bit dear in some cases. The gaiter may run a tenner or so but fitting may run £30 - £80 depending upon the vehicle.

The more important issue is how much damage has been done to the CV joint? Even a few miles of operation with a torn or ruptured gaiter will fling all of the grease free of the CV joint and allow water and grit to enter the joint destroying the joint. Unless you're dealing with a tiny pinhole with little evidence of lost grease or crud in the joint itself, a competent garage will insist on replacing the CV joint or the entire half-shaft. A new CV joint can run £40 - £80. Fitting would be similar to a new gaiter. A replacement half-shaft would run £75 - £200 though fitting may be slightly less than swapping the gaiter or CV joint as less work is actually involved.

As to seriousness, yes it can be serious. Once the gaiter tears or ruptures, the CV joint will fail fairly quickly. If it fails at speed it can do significant damage to the front suspension as well as the gearbox and even the engine and brake hosepipes as the half-shaft thrashes about. It can also cause a loss of control and result in an accident.

Of course, there's also the issue of operating a vehicle on the roads without a current test certificate, so get it sorted quickly.

Answer 2

It is in fact potentially dangerous and warrants a road worthiness prohibition notice because of the danger of joint seizure due to loss of lubricant and / or foreign objects jamming it up. If it seizes then your steering action is lost. It has caused fatal accidents.

Dunno about the Renault but often a couple of hours labour and £15 - £30 for the gaiter. It is important the joint is cleaned out thoroughly and the correct amount of grease is replaced.

Also there is danger from grease getting on the brakes.

Answer 3

It's a bugger of a job to do and normally need a fitting cone and some brute force. Expect to pay for at least an hours labour and about £30 for the part.

Answer 4

no not serious about 1 hours labour and the cost of the gaiter of which i am unsure but about£30

Answer 5

If you know what your doing its fiddly work but not a huge thing, if its being done in a garage then your talking a few hours to do it, and they charge a lot !!.

Its basically a protector to keep grease in and dirt out, not a major thing but the law says they have to be changed if damaged !.

Answer 6

some vehicles are geared up with plastic cv gaiters if this manner come adrift that's amazingly perplexing to re shield them, i usually replace them with rubber ones. if the only geared up is rubber and the desirable suited one to your vehicle a sturdy crimp style bracelet will do the job. a poorly geared up cv gaiter will normaly purely come off whilst cornering on complete guidance lock. i desire this facilitates.

Answer 7

if it came to my garage it would be £40 fitted,,

Answer 8

need more info