Cv Axle Replacement Time. Remove the brake caliper and rotor One end comes out of the transmission, the other end mounts in the wheel hub.
On a 2004 toyota corolla, the labor time for a front axle seal replacement (one side) is 2.6 hours and a beck/arnley seal costs about $7. If a damaged mercedes cv boot is not noticed on time, it will cause the cv joint to fail. Commonly the outside boots are the first to get damaged as these receive more exposure to moisture, road debris etc.
A cv axle assembly should last the lifetime of the vehicle.
If you have a torn cv boot or the cv joint is noisy or vibrating, many shops prefer to install a rebuilt or new cv axle, also called a half shaft. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for an axle to fail. If a boot is compromised, it can be replaced. Mercedes cv boots are known to fail quite frequently.