John Speake

Having just spent a fun few hours replacing a cracked CV boot, it seemed to me the reason for failure was just that the boot was hardened and brittle.


What would be a good substance to spray of the boots from time to time for them to remain supple ? Silicone spray ? WD40 ? Clearly something that wouldn't attack the rubber.

I've used silicone spray on things like door seals with good results.

linderpat

That's not a bad idea, but I've always understood silicone to be bad for rubber? I've been taught not to use silicone spray on my good hiking boots, for example, as it will deteriorate the rubber parts. I may be mislead on this tho.

JHowell37

Anything you spray on will get flung off as you drive and offer better protection to the surrounding area. The only way to keep them soft and supple is to drive the car on somewhat of a regular basis. But even then, you've got rubber that's 25 years old. It's going to break down. You've replaced the boot, it's good to go for another 25 years.

John Speake

Thanks for the comments .... both good points. I will research more. I do drive the car every 7-10 days throughout the year. But as you say it is 24 years old now.

It's difficult to say whether the boots were original. I had to replace the ones the other side 4 years ago.

On this side we snapped the square head off a 1/2" breaker bar trying to get the axle nut uidone.....

JHowell37

Also keep in mind that any kind of dressing will act like a dirt magnet.

Ispeed

You need a 3/4" breaker bar......... No problems then.

DR

Maybe a Tin Foil Hat! J/K :-)

Serously I would just keep them clean and check them once a year or so. They are not in direct sunlight so UV damage is unlikely, other than just age, heat cycles are the only real enemy. As was already said any type of dressing is a magnet for "junk" and the junk will reduce the natural cooling effect.

John Speake

Yes, we went out and bought a 3/4" drive, although the 1/2" has undone many shaft nuts in its life.
Even with the 3/4 drive it took 2 of us on a long lever to move that nut.

Thanks Dave and 928RC for the advice on coatings - naked they will go !

Ispeed

25 years is long enough for any rubber bits to last. You can't ask for more.

dr bob

My two sense-- If one is cracked, the others are not far behind. The total amount of mess is the same, the total amount of work is only slightly different doing all of them vs just the one that failed this time. Bottom line, buy and install the boots only in sets of four.