How to change the car's cardan bellows?

The gimbals are designed to protect your gimbals by holding in grease that provides good lubrication. It is important to keep the gimbal shoes in good condition to avoid damaging the drive shaft. We have prepared a tutorial for you that explains step by step how to replace the gimbal bellows.

Step 1: Gimbal Cover Repair Kit

To replace the gimbal cover, you will need a repair kit that includes: a new cover, two hose clamps, and a gimbal grease bag. Prefer kits that also include a mounting cone, as this will greatly facilitate the installation of a new bellows.

Step 2: Lift the car

Use a jack to lift the car. Be careful to do this on a completely level surface and with the handbrake on so as not to see your car drive away during the intervention.

Step 3: remove the wheel

Remove the wheel by unscrewing the various bolts. If necessary, remove the hub cap to gain access to the wheel bolts. Feel free to refer to our guide to find out how to remove a wheel.

Step 4: Remove the brake caliper.

Unscrew the caliper bracket screws so that it can be removed. If necessary, you can use a screwdriver to push back the brake pads. Attach the caliper bracket to the shock absorber so it does not pull on the hydraulic hose.

Step 5: Remove the steering ball joint.

Remove the steering ball joint from your vehicle. You may need a ball joint puller to successfully remove the steering ball joint.

Step 6: Remove the shock absorber mounting bolts.

Remove the shock absorber mounting bolts. By removing only one of the two, you must have enough slack to dislodge the drivetrain. But if it doesn’t work, remove the two mounting bolts.

Step 7: Remove the transmission nut.

Remove the pin and unscrew the nut at the end of the drive shaft using a long socket wrench. Indeed, the socket wrench must be long or have an extension to be able to apply sufficient force.

Step 8: reset gear

Tilt the brake disc so that the splined end of the transmission shaft can be displaced.

Step 9: Remove the gimbal boot

Cut the two clamps with pliers and scissors to cut out the gimbal cover so that it can be easily removed.

Step 10: Slide the new bellows over the cone.

Lubricate the cone and the outside of the new bellows with oil, then slide the bellows onto the cone, turning it over completely.

Step 11: Install the gimbal cover.

Install the bellows to the transmission with a cone. After the bellows has passed through the cone, you must roll up the bellows so that it is seated correctly. Finally, tighten the bellows from the small side using the small collar.

Step 12: Fill the bellows with grease.

Fill the inside of the gimbal boot with the supplied grease, then place the larger side of the gimbal boot onto the gimbal.

Step 13: close the gimbal boot

Finally, install a large hose clamp to secure the gimbal boot to the joint. Voila, your cardan boot has been replaced, it remains only to assemble everything correctly, repeating the steps in the reverse order. When reassembling, be sure to degrease the brake disc with a degreaser just in case.