Volvo s80 1999 2.9 Axles
 

Its been 2 years now my driver side (Inner Axle boot is torn completely) Though I do hear click sound on bumps but no sound turning left. But Yesterday when I grabbed the Axle rod and moved it, it does have some play in it but not much. Now my question shall I just replace the whole axle or just change the boot. By the way I am very calm driver.

Turn your wheel all the way left and do a couple of circles in a parking lot, accelerate lightly and see if you hear anything. Put it in reverse and do the same thing. If you hear nothing you could get by with just a boot. There is some play in every axle, if there were none they wouldn't be able to move with the suspension right. What you are looking for in play is looseness. If you can move the axle but it takes a little pressure, you're good. If you can move the axle and it feels like it's dry (scraping feel) then you should replace it. Whenever a boot tears you get dirt in the bearings, it's inevitable. If it's not bad now it likely won't last very long before it starts making noise anyways.

Rockauto.com has them for like $70 though so if you are going through the hassle of replacing the boot you might as well replace the whole axle In my opinion.

Thanks bradF for the detailed help. Yes I did mean looseness but it does not take pressure at all...by hand when I grab and move...it does move a little..say half inch.

Regarding turning and reversing test...yes no sound at all...sound only comes on bumps. On the plain road..it is smooth. So what you suggest...just change the boot or whole axle?

The sound on bumps is likely something else altogether. I would look at the upper strut mount bushings for a noise over bumps.

As far as the axle goes, a "proper" reboot means taking the axle apart to put a 1 piece boot on. IMO a proper boot kit is like $40 anyways. Might as well wait and spring the $70 for a whole new axle then you don't have to worry about it. I like doing a job once then not worrying about it. If you crawl under the car to do the boot now. In about 6 months or so you'll be back under there either replacing the boot, or replacing the whole axle anyways. So my suggestion would be to get a new axle if it's been driven for a while with a torn boot already.

I have to agree with replacing the driveshaft over replacing the boot. Replacing the drive shaft, you get either 2 new or re-manufactured CV joints, as well as 2 new boots, and less labor than replacing one boot. Also, most replacement drive shafts have a warranty- possibly even lifetime. This can come in handy if you keep receipts, and plan to keep the car for a while.