Parts for your 2008 Subaru Impreza-Cv boots

2008 Subaru Impreza CV Boots — What They Do and When to Service Them

CV boots are absolutely used on the 2008 Subaru Impreza. Technical sources including the Subaru Factory Service Manual for the GE/GH series (Drive Shaft section) and Subaru’s OEM parts catalogue list front and rear drive shafts with inner and outer constant-velocity (CV) joints, each protected by rubber boots. That means an all-wheel-drive Impreza typically has eight CV boots in total—two per axle, front and rear.

These flexible rubber boots keep special moly grease inside the CV joints and keep grit, water and road grime out. On the Impreza, they allow smooth power delivery to all four wheels while the suspension moves and the wheels steer, helping maintain that planted, confidence-inspiring AWD feel. Once a boot cracks or splits, grease flings out and contamination gets in, which can quickly chew out a CV joint and lead to clicking on turns, vibration under load, or even loss of drive if left too long.

For routine servicing of a 2008 Subaru Impreza, it’s smart to visually check the CV boots at every service or roughly every 10,000–15,000 km. Look for perishing, small cracks in the rubber, loose or rusty clamps, and any wet, dark grease misted around the inner guards, subframe, or wheels. Catching a weep early often means an inexpensive reboot rather than replacing a whole axle.

• Inspect both inner and outer boots on all four corners—AWD Imprezas have front and rear shafts.
• Check for grease sling around the hub, strut, or control arms—classic torn-boot sign.
• Listen for clicking on tight turns—may indicate joint wear from a failed boot.
• If a boot is damaged, clean and reboot the joint with fresh moly grease and new clamps.
• Have axle nuts torqued to factory spec and re-staked during reassembly.

Driving long with a torn boot isn’t worth the risk. If the tear is fresh and the joint hasn’t run dry, a boot kit (new boot, grease, clamps) usually does the trick. If the joint’s noisy or contaminated, a complete shaft replacement can be faster and more economical. Quality OEM-equivalent boots handle Aussie and Kiwi conditions well, keeping the Impreza’s AWD performance sharp and trouble-free.

How many CV boots does a 2008 Subaru Impreza have?
Most AWD 2008 Imprezas have eight CV boots—inner and outer boots on both left and right front axles, plus inner and outer boots on both left and right rear axles. Each boot seals grease around its CV joint to keep things smooth and quiet.

How often should CV boots be inspected or replaced?
Give them a quick look at every service (around 10,000–15,000 km). Replace a boot as soon as you spot cracking, grease leakage, or loose clamps. If the joint’s already noisy or contaminated, a full axle swap is usually the better call.

Is it safe to drive with a torn CV boot?
Short-term, gentle driving might get them to a workshop, but it’s risky. Grease loss and contamination can damage the joint quickly, turning a simple reboot into a full CV/axle replacement. Best to sort it promptly.