Front Axle Boots - where to buy and is GKN good?

[iXerces]

Torn CV boots? Just reach for the peanut butter...

http://www.reddit.com/r/Justrolledintotheshop/comments/30y22j/no_grease_close_enough/

[Nisse Järnet]

let us know how it works out. Had to replace a yr old boot last week, AGAIN.

Didnt work too well, they seem to hold up for about a year...Im on my 2nd set now and just replaced one axle with OEM boots today.
So i dont think i would buy the silicone ones again...Lets see how the OEM works!



Yuck...



Now were talking!


In you go!

[nando]

Good to know - haven't had to do mine in a few years, but the ix spends most of its time in the garage now, lol.

It's sort of too bad they didn't work out. With "extreme lowering" on an ix (which I consider mine to be - sure, I could go lower, but to no benefit), realistically stock boots last 1-2 years of daily use at most. It would have been nice to have something that lasted longer...

[nrubenstein]

I keep meaning to rig up a heat shield for the passenger side outer. The RF seems to last half as long or less as the LF.

[nando]

yeah same. Just a thin piece of aluminum or stainless steel bolted to the motor mount would probably work.

in 15 years I've replaced the drivers side maybe twice, I can't even remember how many times I've done the passenger side.

[Kershaw]

I just do the axles in pairs now. I have 2 sets of front cv axles and I just rotate them out. :neutral:

[nrubenstein]

yeah same. Just a thin piece of aluminum or stainless steel bolted to the motor mount would probably work.

in 15 years I've replaced the drivers side maybe twice, I can't even remember how many times I've done the passenger side.

We got ours in '08. I've done the LF once. I can't remember whether I have done the RF three or four times now.

I really ought to just swap it out as preventative maintenance every two years. The only good part is that it always seems to fail during the summer, so it doesn't get filled with salt.

[AWDBOB]

I just do the axles in pairs now. I have 2 sets of front cv axles and I just rotate them out. :neutral:

This. I have a constant rotation. I think I currently have 6 long axles and two short axles that are all rebuilt :)

I use the GKN. Never trusted the silicone. The GKN I got on closeout and bought like 12 boots for $73. The outer GKN is a Ford p/n (still OE) if I can recall correctly, and the inner is the regular 325ix.

[E30andy]

Torn CV boot

Any good How-to's on replacing a torn CV boot on an ix? I'm looking at doing this job on my recently purchased 91 ix.

Thanks!

Andy

[Nisse Järnet]

Good to know - haven't had to do mine in a few years, but the ix spends most of its time in the garage now, lol.

It's sort of too bad they didn't work out. With "extreme lowering" on an ix (which I consider mine to be - sure, I could go lower, but to no benefit), realistically stock boots last 1-2 years of daily use at most. It would have been nice to have something that lasted longer...

Yeah its too bad :( Will be interesting to see how the OEM holds up.

So on the stock 325ix its usually the right inner that goes first? Exactly how/where does it rip?

My engine/exhaust produces a lot more heat than a stock 325ix, but how the manifold and turbo is mounted on mine i think will help to actually put less heat on the right inner. But we will see :)

[ThatM20Guy]

Saw that Pelican has a kit for $80 that includes all the CV boots needed. Uses GKN and Empi boots. Seems to be a pretty good price. Will probably replace all mine this spring along with wheel bearings (preventative maintenance)