Outer CV boot confusion

[NickT]

Evening, I had my N/S/F outer CV boot replaced June this year, purchased the kit myself from GSF, genuine OEM GKN part for my 2001 LC and was surprised at how rigid and 'plasticky' it was as on past car experiences they have been more rubbery, anyway figured it was correct and had it fitted.

Went to fit a new N/S/F wheel speed sensor last Friday to discover the inside of the alloy and wheel arch nicely plastered in thick black grease, the large outboard clip missing from the CV boot which had then detached itself, unsurprisingly.

Now I have heard of rare occasions of these clips letting go, and read of one such occasion on seatcupra.net, and I'm sure the garage that fitted this one didn't forget to fit the clip but I've just purchased another GKN kit, this time from Eurocarparts and the boot is more rubbery than 'plasticky'!

Anyone care to share their experiences and thoughts on which is the correct or preferred type?

 

[james walker]

rubbery is better than plasticy, will stretch better and not crack as easily.

try fitting boot on with jubilee clips instead of those one use jobbys, will clamp tighter (NOT TOO TIGHT THOUGH)

also make sure they release the air out of the joint/boot before tightening, helps the seal.

 

[adm013]

I wouldn't bet on it.....

My experience of garages is that i wouldn't use one again unless i had tried every other option, i had a MK3 golf Gti, needed a CV boot fitted, job was done......a few months later i was under the car and saw an allen bolt sticking out, said to myself "that doesn't look right..." I then found all the bolts that hold the retaining plate over the edge of the boot were loose allowing the grease to fling itself onto everything in the area........and it cost me £120 for this pleasure.

Lucky enough i have a pit in my shed to carry out jobs like this with relative ease.

Has you CV boot/gaiter split?

 

[adm013]

I'll add aswell it was a VW/Audi approved garage!

 

[NickT]

rubbery is better than plasticy, will stretch better and not crack as easily.

Yeah, that's the way I'm leaning as I also reckon the more rigid plastic boot would have put the clips under greater strain.

I wouldn't bet on it.....

My experience of garages is that i wouldn't use one again unless i had tried every other option, i had a MK3 golf Gti, needed a CV boot fitted, job was done......a few months later i was under the car and saw an allen bolt sticking out, said to myself "that doesn't look right..." I then found all the bolts that hold the retaining plate over the edge of the boot were loose allowing the grease to fling itself onto everything in the area........and it cost me £120 for this pleasure.

Lucky enough i have a pit in my shed to carry out jobs like this with relative ease.

Has you CV boot/gaiter split?

Ouch, I can see why you'd be a bit wary.
I have bit more faith and experience with this place and they are a respected Indie VAG specialist so I'll give them the benefit this time, plus I don't have access to a pit or am I given the spare time to do these jobs with a couple of curious toddlers in tow!

 

[adm013]

Yeah, that's the way I'm leaning as I also reckon the more rigid plastic boot would have put the clips under greater strain.



Ouch, I can see why you'd be a bit wary.
I have bit more faith and experience with this place and they are a respected Indie VAG specialist so I'll give them the benefit this time, plus I don't have access to a pit or am I given the spare time to do these jobs with a couple of curious toddlers in tow!

Yeah i bit wary, and unfortunately where i live there isn't an abundance of decent garages, and the ones that are approved are a joke.......but at least it saves me money and gets me the know how.

As for the toddlers, nows the time to get them clued up on the car, so you can sit back and relax and get them doing it all!

 

[adm013]

http://www.cjautos.org.uk/phdi/p1.nsf/imgpages/cjautos_phpmk6vshAM.jpg/$file/phpmk6vshAM.jpg

http://www.cjautos.org.uk/phdi/p1.nsf/imgpages/cjautos_phpbTmyBhAM%5B1%5D.jpg/$file/phpbTmyBhAM%5B1%5D.jpg


These are what you need!!!

 

[james walker]

and a bank loan to pay for them aswell...........

 

[NickT]

Has you CV boot/gaiter split?

Oops missed this bit, no the new boot hadn't split but due to the large clip going AWOL the boot slipped off the joint at that end.

 

[adm013]

and a bank loan to pay for them aswell...........

Yeah definitely!

 

[james walker]

Oops missed this bit, no the new boot hadn't split but due to the large clip going AWOL the boot slipped off the joint at that end.

happened to mine, may be cheaper and definatly alot easier to source a good 2nd hand driveshaft complete with cv joint/boot etc

 

[NickT]

Confusion cleared, the rubbery GKN replacement boot kit I purchased was the wrong one apparently, cheers Euro!

So got another of the more rigid plastic GKN kits fitted but the mechanic used a more robust clip at the 'big end' so fingers crossed on that one.

Apparently they've gone to these more plastic versions as they don't perish like the rubber type, so long as they bloody stay on long enough!

 

[james walker]

the plastic ones may not perish, but arent as giving as rubber ones, so may crack easier, keep an eye for cracks under stress on them ones. the garage will say these as they are cheaper to buy, but will charge same labour costs. rubber oem type definatly the way forward on these

 

[NickT]

the plastic ones may not perish, but arent as giving as rubber ones, so may crack easier, keep an eye for cracks under stress on them ones. the garage will say these as they are cheaper to buy, but will charge same labour costs. rubber oem type definatly the way forward on these

I'm totally with you on this one and thought I had managed to obtain an OEM (GKN) rubber boot from Euro but it turned out to be the wrong one despite the website listing it for a 1.8 20V T AUQ motor!

The new boot fitted is OEM (GKN pt. no. 3B0498203E) and certainly wasn't cheaper at £24.84+VAT but it seems to be the way they've chosen to go with regards to the material of (their) choice, unfortunately.