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nacradriver Samba Member
Joined: January 15, 2009 Posts: 760 Location: Ventura, CA
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Posted: Wed Jan 13, 2016 11:19 am Post subject: Clamps vs. Zip Ties for CV Boots |
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Along the lines of the Taste Great - Less Filling debate what have you found to be the better solution for your CV boot when securing them to the axle... _________________ Güdrun -1989 Westfalia - 2013 - 2018
Petra - 1985 Vanagon - 1985 to 1991
Zisa - 1974 VW Van "Bus" - 1974 to 1985 |
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WestyBob Samba Member
Joined: June 11, 2004 Posts: 2346 Location: Portland, Oregon
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Posted: Wed Jan 13, 2016 11:37 am Post subject: Re: Clamps vs. Zip Ties for CV Boots |
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nacradriver wrote: |
Along the lines of the Taste Great - Less Filling debate what have you found to be the better solution for your CV boot when securing them to the axle... |
From a local syncro nut friend .... zip ties are better because clamps can eventually cause boot breakage by not allowing as much flex.
I've tried it both ways with no problems but if I were doing back or off-road I'd use the zip ties to allow for greater boot articulation.
YMMV. |
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Terry Kay Banned
Joined: June 22, 2003 Posts: 13331
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Posted: Wed Jan 13, 2016 11:38 am Post subject: Re: Clamps vs. Zip Ties for CV Boots |
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Wire ties work fine. _________________ T.K. |
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seventyfo Samba Member
Joined: February 13, 2007 Posts: 916 Location: Ocoee FL
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Posted: Wed Jan 13, 2016 11:40 am Post subject: Re: Clamps vs. Zip Ties for CV Boots |
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None, maybe get a couple more months out of your boots. _________________ 85 Vanagon GL Westy GW 2.2 (Rebuilt by YT)
"I don't know you well enough to care about your comments". Watkins Cravey |
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Gnarlodious Samba Member
Joined: September 28, 2013 Posts: 2323 Location: Adobe Jungle USA
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Posted: Wed Jan 13, 2016 10:04 pm Post subject: Re: Clamps vs. Zip Ties for CV Boots |
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I have used the zip ties for years. _________________ Vanagon ’83 diesel AAZ w/Giles injection, 5spd 4.57R&P+TBD and a '78 diesel Rabbit |
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Wildthings Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005 Posts: 50353
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Posted: Wed Jan 13, 2016 11:57 pm Post subject: Re: Clamps vs. Zip Ties for CV Boots |
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With new boots, I start with no ties and then will add them maybe 50K miles down the road. A lot might depend on where you live and how you use your van. |
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IdahoDoug Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2010 Posts: 10252 Location: N. Idaho
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Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2016 12:08 am Post subject: Re: Clamps vs. Zip Ties for CV Boots |
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I guess if properly sized they create enough of a seal on the axle shaft end for every day driving, eh? I had heard so, and when I put new boots on my vans I have found that to be the case. If a van is used offroad or specifically for water crossings, you might want a tighter seal as a clamp provides. But just rain and road spray they seem tight enough. The zip tie then may come into play when the movement has caused wear and some slack, eh? _________________ 1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader |
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WestyBob Samba Member
Joined: June 11, 2004 Posts: 2346 Location: Portland, Oregon
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Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2016 1:34 am Post subject: Re: Clamps vs. Zip Ties for CV Boots |
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Zip ties of any size normally don't literally clamp the boot end tightly onto the axle, unless one is really making a deliberate effort to do that, as much as keeps it from expanding from age and use. It will usually allow the boot end some movement on the axle, especially under off-roading conditions.
A metal clamp, especially if tightened to the max, will clamp the boot end down onto the axle in a fixed position allowing for no movement.
Many off-roaders have reported in time the metal edging of the clamps can cut into the rubber boot, as the boot tries to stretch and compress during articulation, potentially breaking through and then allow dust and grit to work its way in toward the CV.
I have also seen on both air-coolers and vanagons more than once where the boot end is metal clamped in fixed position and about 1/4" to 1/2" beyond the boot is partially or completely separated all the way around. Possibly caused by age/fatigue but also the inability to move on the axle however slight.
Again, if all your driving is on the paved road then it may not be that much of an issue and as one said, if the new boot is already tight then you could just go for a while like that. But I always use zip ties not to fix in place but to prevent future expansion from age and use.
Having said all that the original OEM boots I have seen had crimped metal clamps. I guess VoG never imagined we'd be driving these rigs for so long nor doing the crazy off-roading things us syncroists do |
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Wasted youth Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2012 Posts: 5134 Location: California's Hot and Smoggy Central Valley
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Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2016 3:16 am Post subject: Re: Clamps vs. Zip Ties for CV Boots |
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I used to use the crimped metal clamps. Special crimp tool and clamps from NAPA, but stopped when I found that the boot needs have some free movement when I discovered a boot starting to twist; maybe the clamp was too tight. Regardless, I don't use clamps anymore at all. I don't wade through creeks, so submerging these on a regular basis is not on my menu. I have yet to see any contamination... the biggest point of failure is when the boots start to split as they age. FWIW, my experience is predominantly with the air-cooled cars/buses. |
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insyncro Banned
Joined: March 07, 2002 Posts: 15086 Location: New York
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Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2016 6:23 am Post subject: Re: Clamps vs. Zip Ties for CV Boots |
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The Syncro front outer will need a metal band on the large side....other than that, zips a the way to go. |
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Wildthings Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005 Posts: 50353
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Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2016 7:13 am Post subject: Re: Clamps vs. Zip Ties for CV Boots |
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Some boots don't even have a place for the clamp to sit, the ones I have had of this style were of pretty good quality but I have no idea what brand they were. |
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Ahwahnee Samba Member
Joined: June 05, 2010 Posts: 9810 Location: Mt Lemmon, AZ
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Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2016 7:44 am Post subject: Re: Clamps vs. Zip Ties for CV Boots |
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nacradriver wrote: |
Along the lines of the Taste Great - Less Filling debate... |
Or maybe the boxers - briefs - or nothing at all debate...
I use nothing at all -- and have never had a boot fail.
Just looked it up - the current boots were installed in 2002 (due to a noisy CV joint).
I might use a zip tie if the small end was so loose that dirt or moisture could get in; but that small end seems to be just right - tight enough to seal but loose enough to allow movement.
This also makes it easy to slip a long thin tube in there for reloading the CV grease. |
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Wasted youth Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2012 Posts: 5134 Location: California's Hot and Smoggy Central Valley
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Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2016 10:12 am Post subject: Re: Clamps vs. Zip Ties for CV Boots |
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Ahwahnee wrote: |
...but tight enough to seal but loose enough to allow movement. |
Right, this is what I get. The boots are tight enough on this end to need just a little bit of grease smeared on the axle to help them slide on easy. Haven't seen a real need to clamp them. I use Rein brand. |
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