Cadillac 88952506 Boot Kit,Rear Outer Shaft

For detailed illustrations of the steering and suspension components, begin by checking the shock absorbers, pull over the vehicle and stop the engine, switch off, and put the parking brake into operation when checking tire pressures. Apply a downward pressure on the rear left hand side of the vehicle and let go of the same, observe that the body of the vehicle should not continue to oscillate but should settle down to level within one or two bounces. If it still goes up and down or do not come back, then you have a worn or weak shock absorber on your hand. Do the same check at other corners, then lift the car and sustain it with jackstands. Check for leakage along the piston rod area of the shock absorber; a thin layer of oil is permissible but should not exceed a certain level; should the level be high then the shocks will need to be replaced in pairs. Confirm the shocks are not damaged and well-fixed to the vehicle, inspect the top mounts for damage and wear, howsoever replace both together. Subsequently, look for signs of uneven tread wear or over-inflation of the tires. Check for any signs of leakage of the lubricant, condition of the dust boots and tightness of the clamps on the universal joint of the steering shaft and the steering gear housing. Check the tie-rod ends for any preload and look at the other bolts meaning that all rubber bushings in all suspension and steering parts must be checked for looseness and breaking. With an assistant in turning the steering wheel, examine for a clearance, friction, constriction among the steering's connecting parts. For other ball joint wears, competent use of prybar to lift the control arm up and down and find out if there is looseness; we find that most of the time if there is looseness it is attributable to worn ball joint and the remedy is replacement of the whole control arm the ball joints cannot be replaced alone. Last but not least, check the rear CV Boots for any signs of rips or tears in addition to crannies - flexible boots should be examined for cracks; relaxed clamps; loose or leaking boots should be replaced.

Slide the boot back to access the outer joint retaining snap-ring, then use snap-ring pliers to remove the boot.

To check the shock absorbers, park the vehicle on level ground, turn off the engine, and set the parking brake, ensuring tire pressures are correct. Push down on one corner of the vehicle and release it, observing that it should stop moving and return to a level position within one or two bounces. If it continues to move or fails to return, the shock absorber may be worn or weak. Repeat this check at the other corners.

Reassemble the joint by aligning and installing the balls into the cage, ensuring all components are properly seated. Then, slide the clamps and boot onto the axleshaft, install the retaining ring, and drive the joint onto the axleshaft with a hammer and block of wood.