CV axle replacement and lifespan?

[Zoro]

While doing an oil change on my Eagle I noticed the boot is torn on the driver side CV axle, it's still nice and greasy inside so I guess it just happened. I just replaced both CV axles in 2009, how much life are you guys getting out of these? I will be replacing the shafts but I need to buy some time, have you guys had any luck with the HELP! brand repair kits?

For replacement axles I see only one part # listed, are the axles identical?

[SpreadEagle]

Both are the same from what I see and have heard. I have 3 of them sitting on my garage floor. 1 reman's and 2 just removed from a parts car with good boots.

[mach1mustang351]

4 years is pretty good on a daily driven car in my opinion.  I have about 6 on mine. 

[carnuck]

Modern "rubber" dies quickly. Something usually hits the boot and starts a tear. Split boots are car lot cobble jobs.. If you get the regular boot, pull the axle, take the inner boot off (big end first, then snap ring so the 3 sided "tripode" comes out carefully so the needles don't fall out. Take the snap ring off the shaft end and tape the needle caps (if they aren't the kind with a clip on the end keeping them together) all the way around to keep them together.
   Once the tripode is off, take the inner boot off and tear away the old boot and clean out the outer joint. Slide the new boot down the shaft (if rusty, I use a wire wheel to take most of it off) with a little lube to slide easier.

Probably a youtube showing how to do it

[Zoro]

Thanks for the info.

I'm leaning towards the split boot for the time being. At the end of the summer I'm replacing everything that moves in the front end so I'll replace the shafts in their entirety and keep my current ones as spares.