twisted cv boot

Our ride Saturday was my 1st ride on my new axle in the drivers side rear.  One day and had problems.  It looks like something got wedged in there against the boot for a while and kept it from turning on the axle end, while the cv joint spun it around a couple of turns and twisted it all up.  James and I tried to get the boot back in shape on the trail with no luck.  Even after twisting it back around, it's still all waded up.  There are no holes in the boot.  I'm a little afraid to put this other boot on it and risk damaging my cv joint by taking it off and putting it back on the axle, if my boot is still good.

I'm thinking about taking the rear knuckle off so I can move the axle around more to get the boot straightened out.  You guys think I should keep running it if I get it back in shape?  Or, should I not risk it, and put the other boot on?

Has anyone ever seen this happen?  I've heard of it, but never seen it before.

I will throw up a picture when I get home Thursday.

I've had it happen on a couple different bikes and never can get them to straighten out I've always just replaced them.

Mine was collapsed when we got it and we bought a new boot for it but the old one just pushed back out so we kept it on. It might be easier to just put a new boot on so you don't have to worry about it unless it isn't that bad. My 2 cents.

its just a messy job but its hard to fuk up a CV, just gotta make sure u have the bands, grease, etc

Try sliding a grease needle, or other hollow needle, between the shaft and the boot  without puncturing the boot, to allow air to get back in. That usually fixes it for me.

Thanks alot you guys.  I will try that idea on letting air in it, and try to push it back out.  If that don't work, I will put the boot on it from my old axle that had the loose cv joints.  The boot on it looks like new.

How is the outer cv held to the axle, with a c clip?  Just slide the boot back and hit the part of the cv that is on the splines of the axle to pop it off?

I don't want to mess it up, I got 100 miles on a $260 axle and don't want to hurt it.

Yea it's pretty easy just try to make sure they are straight when you hit them and they will normally come rite off.

Took the old boot off and no way could it be straightened.  I messed with it a while and all I could get was a long smooth boot with no chance of ever going back to shape.  Found a small hole in it, so I put the one on it off my old axle.  I hope it holds up for a while, and no water got to it.  Everything looked good with lots of dark grey grease in there.