My car is in for an MoT on Monday, and so I thought I'd give it a service and check everything over today.

I've noticed that the CV boot on the nearside, next to the hub has split and grease is coming out, so I assume in its current state, it will fail an MoT :(

Is this a job I can do DIY tomorrow? Would I be able to even get the boot anywhere tomorrow?

Easily a DIY job. I did mine last weekend while I had the shafts out anyway while changing the clutch and flywheel. I used one of those stretch boots so that I didn't have to split the joint. First time I've used a stretch boot and it certainly won't be the last. If you've got a motor factors near you that opens on a Sunday, you should be able to get a complete kit along with a new hub nut. You'll need a 36mm 12 sided socket to turn said hub nut.

Well the only place I can think of that's open on Sunday around here is Wilko Motosave, as all the usual places like GSF and ECP are shut.

I'll give them a ring in the morning and see what they say.

How hard is it to get the drive shaft out?

Not to hard but you'll need to undo the suspension to enable it to swing out far enough to tap the end of the cv joint back through the hub. I undid the 3 little bolts holding the lower ball joint on. You have to bolt them back up in the same place though, otherwise you might upset the tracking. It may be possible to unbolt the whole lower arm from the subframe. I tried that first as it can only go back in one place, but I couldn't get the bolts undone.

Jacked up

Wheel off

Ball joint out - either three bolts on the wishbone or one large but on the hub

With balljoint removed...

Remove driveshaft nut

Pull hub farward while pushing driveshaft back

A careful knock with a copper hammer might help

IMO, it isn't a DIY job, you need a decent range of tools including large sockets for the driveshaft nut, as well as an impact gun maybe to remove the nut without the driveshaft turning the hub (a helper in the car may help)

Also the balljoints can be a pain to remove from the hub and can be awkward to get back in.

Good luck whatever you decide to do, post on here if you get stuck (y)

I did it myself :-) Hub nut can be undone with wheel on the ground, using a breaker bar. Just remove the centre cap and poke socket through.

Does the hub nut definitely have to be replaced?

I've found a place that has a boot, but not the nut.

Next thing is where to get a socket to undo the thing in the first place.

Have you thought about using a universal split boot? Easy to put on, no tools, will get you through the mot. http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Universal-Split-CV-Boot-Kit-/04/!CEE(LcwCWk~$(KGrHqN,!lsEz+6T,IzCBNQs51hT7Q~~_35.JPG

Never tried one myself, but should be good until the weather gets better and you have more time.

I did it myself :-)

You also say you did the clutch and flywheel yourself, doesn't sound like your average diy'er to me.

I've used one of them split boots before, was on an old Mitsubishi jeep thing and was going to be a big job to replace the boot so went for the split boot option. Not a huge fan of them tbh but it did the job.

Well as I thought - it failed on the CV boot.

I put it in as I wanted to make sure that there was nothing else.

After weighing up my options, I've decided to get the garage to replace it. The MoT expires on Sunday, and I need the car this weekend. By the time I've bought the bits and tools necessary, waited for them to be delivered, the only chance I'd realistically get to fit it would be Thursday after work. Last thing I really want to be doing after work is dismantling the car doing a job I've never attempted before.

Sounds like your best option. Just check prices first and mention you've checked them to the garage so they don't rip you off.