clicking noiseon my 96 honda civic

Repacking is a waste of time, Replace both the front C/V axle's right & left sides even if only one side is clicking.

For people who take their cars to a shop for repairs. The labor to repack is the same as replacement labor. Depending on the level of damage already done or not done to the c/v joint while it is confirmed to be clicking, repacking may or may not add any life to the c/v. If the person facing this issue has plenty of time and now how with tools in hand to c/v in hand to back in car, repacking first verses new parts may work for a little bit but may not too. If you are paying someone else then know that the labor to repack is the same labor to replace. If it has started to click it is at this time creating damage. The boot keeps the grease from going all over the place while operating so if it is damaged it allows road dirt ect to get into the joint and cause it to go out faster and repacking is not advised unless it is damaged and the boot replaced soon after with a new one. I will leave you with a huge tip, also have your front hub/wheel bearings replaces too as to do the axles is only one step away from pulling the knuckle off to have them pressed (old) out and (new) in. The axle passes threw the knuckle which houses the bearing too so save some time and money and get them replaced now.

It is possible to pull the boot off and apply new grease to the joint and put on a universal boot but it is not the same as pulling out to repack it. I have done this to one of my own that I tore the boot on and 6 months later I was replacing that axle and then the other side went to clicking a year later which had no damage to the boot, but the lash on the new one was less then the other which was only three years old the about 8 months later my bearing started to roar and I had pull it all back apart, I did not learn my lesson and did the axles only on a Honda CRX 5 years later and with in a year I was replacing hub bearings too so since then I have never just replaced boots and repacked or just did axles without putting in new bearings too. In my book repacking just means that you will be putting in axles in a few months.