self repair driveaxles?

the problem is that the cv boots are going and i'm concerned the joints are shot or are going bad (cracks in the rubber). i don't really want to bother inspecting them, i'd rather just replace the entire shafts w/ new units and be done w/ it. i moved from upstate new york where they salt the roads like you wouldn't believe in the winter, to the hot as hell summers of southern california. i'd like the reassurance that the joints are going to fail on me. btw, anyone know what kind of safety issues driving on a possibly bad joint (that may or may not go out) is? thanks.