2004 Pontiac Grand Am CV Boots

Easier to replace the axle and not the boot
I would just replace the axle
1.Raise and support vehicle. Remove tire and wheel assembly.
2.Disconnect tie rod from knuckle.
3.Insert a drift into the rotor and against the caliper in order to prevent the rotor from turning
. Remove the axle shaft nut. Remove the stabilizer link.
NOTE: Be sure that the wheel speed sensor wiring harness is repositioned away from the ball joint after disconnecting the electrical connector from the sensor.
4.Disconnect the electrical connector from the wheel speed sensor and reposition the wiring harness away from the ball joint. Remove the ball joint from the steering knuckle.
5.Use the hub spindle remover in order to remove the hub and the bearing and support the axle shaft.
NOTE: Be sure to bottom out the threads as much as possible while assembling the slide hammer, the axle shaft puller and the axle shaft remover extension.
6.Assemble the slide hammer, the axle shaft puller and the axle shaft remover extension. Using the slide hammer, the axle shaft puller and the axle shaft remover extension, disengage the axle shaft from the transaxle. Remove the axle shaft from the vehicle.

I find it best to replace the entire half shaft. Replacing just the boots can be very time consuming, you have to have boot clamping tools etc, be able to disassemble the half shaft axle parts and I have found that sometimes there are other parts on the shaft that needed replaced. By the time I purchased all of the parts and spent the time taking the old off and putting the new on the cost of a new shaft (about $80.00 each for your car) was well worth it. Once you pull the tire off, axle nut off, pop the axle out of the wheel hub and transmission then just pop the new one in, you are done. Also, just a couple of things. Since the axle is off you may consider replacing the axle shaft transaxle seal. You are there, the axle is out. Just make sure you put it in flush and do not damage it as it will leak. Also, sometimes the new axle doesn't have a lock ring holding the CV joint together. What I mean by that is you can literally pull the axle apart at the CV area inside the boot and you can not get it back together. Therefore what I have found to be safe is to take safety wire and wire one end to the other so the axle can not separate. Once installed to the wheel hub cut the wire since the transmission is on one end and the wheel hub on the other and it will not separate. Last, once removed you may have to get the front end aligned if you have to disconnect the struts. So mark them to install as close a possible to prevent the front end being too far out. Good luck and be safe.