The transfer of rotational power from the transmission to the wheels should be a seamless operation of the Dodge axle assembly with no noise or friction. Carefully greased and packed CV- (continuous velocity) and U-joints keep a great deal of abrasive dirt and grime from penetrating the joints and causing catastrophic wear. The gasket that holds abrasive contaminants at bay is known as a boot. When the boots are cracked or otherwise damaged, the grease that normally lubricates the joints becomes a sponge for sucking up dirt from the road. The dirt acts like sandpaper on the joints of the Dodge axle assembly, and will eventually cause the characteristic grinding noise that gets worse as the wheel is turned. Many people find out they've got a cracked or torn boot when performing routine maintenance such as oil changes. The axle assembly must be replaced immediately. Since the boots are most often at fault, many people try to save a few dollars by performing the extraction, cleaning and repacking themselves. This very dirty job is rarely successful because of the difficulty involved in removing all the old, contaminated grease. Unless you're an expert with all the required special tools, you may be setting yourself up to do the job again very soon. When you purchase a Dodge axle assembly from car-stuff.com you can be assured of well lubricated, new parts, built to OEM specifications. Why do more work than you have to? People who want save money and ensure a lasting repair select Dodge axle assemblies.