Just discovered a rear axle boot was torn 2 weeks ago during a tow. Since then I've driven 1300 mi on dry, interstate highways. Has this tear been caught soon enough to avoid replacing the entire CV/boot & simply lubricate the CV joint/replace the boot?

I mistyped, sorry. It is the front, right axle boot that was torn, and, yes, the truck has selectable 4wd. I also have an inner seal leak on the front axle. While I've read that the front boot replacement can be a lot of work (just in getting stuff off to gain access to do the job), an axle inner seal replacement is a job that some forums have said is pretty quick and easy (as short as 15 minutes on some light pickups, like mine). I'm being told that the CV joint/boot replacement and the inner seal leak are going to cost about $300 each ($600 total). Having just replaced the tranny on this truck, I'm looking for ways to bring down the cost of these axle repairs...replacing the boot seems like one way to do that, so long as the CV joint isn't likely to wear out on me faster.

Here we go... The complete axle is approx $55.00 @ NAPA... The boot kit is approx $21.00.. Now, the boot kit requires a LOT more labor to install so the best choice just may be the axle assembly... As far as the front axle seal... 'NEVER' had a problem with one on these vehicles!!! Unless you're pretty good with a wrench... Call around for prices on doing the repair... Make sure cv joint lube isn't being mistaken as a seal leaking!

It looks like I should call around on the CV kit replacement as well, since I was given a price quote to replace it instead of just the boot and I'm being quoted $100 more in labor fees than just doing the boot...if it's a lot less work to just do the kit replacement than the boot, I should be getting lower costs in labor and something's off about the quotes this shop's giving me.

Read what I just posted again!!! It will be more money to install the boot kit as labor will eat you alive!!!!.. Strongly suggest axle assembly replacement!!!

Read what I just posted again, pushrod. The shop's telling me the exact opposite of what you're telling me, which means clearly there's something wrong about this shop's quote and I'll need to look elsewhere.

I did not say anything about replacing any kind of 'KIT' !!!!!! Good night!