So, I just had my front 5100s installed (at a trusted shop that I've dealt with for decades) and asked the tech to check brake/joint/bearing wear...all good. A week later I went on vacation and used 4wd a little bit every day (<20mph, on the beach, maybe 10mi over the whole week)...worked well, no issues. But when changing the oil yesterday I discovered CV grease flung all over the passenger UCA and crash bar. All four boots seem plenty supple, no cracking. I drove the truck the whole time and am quite certain that I didn't run over anything that could have damaged it, and I have to assume the tech would have noticed while doing the strut work. With the axle stationary (in 2wd), obviously not an issue.

The timing seems a little suspicious. Could the tech have manhandled the axle and damaged the boot during strut install? I went with 1.75" level (not max) and recognize that the CV angles are slightly increased which flexes the boot a little more...but all four boots really do look to be supple and in excellent shape. The truck is 6+ years old, but has only 38k southern miles on it, 95%+ on-road. I bought it in April w/24k.

I was in a hurry to get the oil done and annoyed to have to clean up the grease, so I didn't locate or photograph the hole, but I saw no obvious damage to the boot or clamps when cleaning. I will check it out further shortly.

 

Is it the inner or outer boot?

Honestly it sounds like a coincidence. If the boots were even starting to crack, the increase of angle could have finished it off. There's very little they could do to damage it especially if it's the inner boot. If it was the outer boot, then they maybe could have damage it.

 

Outer.

 

I too suspect it’s a coincidence. Whenever I take an extended drive, especially on interstates, my vehicles catch grease spatter from the roads and semi trucks. My wheels and doors will be streaked with black marks. I could imagine the underneath looks worse.

 

Definitely not picked up from the road...lots of fresh grease up inside the wheel even. Boot is for sure busted.

 

But you said all 4 boots/clamps looked excellent?… does it appear to be in relation to your recent suspension mods?

 

Excellent, as in supple, no evidence of cracking, no major boot trauma, clamps look solid. As I said, I have not yet actually located the hole. I expect to find a pinch or puncture, it's not at all like a dried out boot where a crease fails and completely separates.