If the cv joint boot breaks does the whole cv joint need replaced or just the boot because i took it into le schwab and they replaced my right one for $175 and i just saw that you can get just the boot. i called them and they said they only put on the whole thing. i want to save money because i dont have much. so is it the whole thing that goes bad or is it just the boot?

Depends on the situation.

When the boot breaks, it allows the grease and oil to run out of the CV joint. If continues on until the CV joint runs dry and starts grinding...then its better to replace the whole thing.

If the boot breaks recently and you see the leakage, but don't have any symptoms, its possible to just replace the boot and still have a good CV joint intacted.