CV Boot Best Brand and Supplier FAQ

[SGKent]

longevity of those items depends a lot on how much ozone they are subjected to.
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Canned Water - the new California approved parts cleaner (except in a drought in which case rub it with sand).

George Carlin:
"Most people don't know what they're doing, and a lot of them are really good at it."

Skills@EuroCarsPlus:
"never time to do it right but always time to do it twice"

[Shonandb]

I replaced all 4 CV boots back in 2018 when I did a clean and regrease of the CV joints in prep for the engine and trans install. I bought 4 regular Vanagon CV boots off CIP1 at the time and 3 of them failed within a year of driving (< 8000 kms) so I thought I would try the EMPI 100mm offroad boots and bought and installed 2 and swapped out to another regular boot that I had as a backup. The 2 remaining regular boots failed in less than 5,000 kms so I ordered 2 more EMPI Offroad boots and installed them.

2 of the offroad boots have over 40,000 kms on them now and the newer offroad boots have over 20,000 kms and they all look to be in great shape but of course, dirty as we do a lot of forest service roads.
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76 Westy with a 2.5L Subaru SOHC + Vanagon (010) Automatic Transaxle
Build & Trip Thread: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=758760
Previous 1973 Panel Bus:
Click to view image

[Wildthings]

FWIW back circa 2010 I acquired a 1973 VW Thing and went through it pretty well and now have 60K or so additional miles on it. I was recently under it and saw that the Rockford boots where in need of replacement, but the Brand X boots looked just fine. I will see if I can clean up the Brand X boots and come up with any numbers.

[vwwestyman]

[markd89]

[richparker]

Why ruin perfectly good CVs? Buy the Tiguan boots from FCP Euro and be done with it.
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’71 Westy build
Adventure thread
’65 Deluxe Build
’71 Double Cab

[markd89]

So I got under the bus a couple of days ago and see two torn boots again on the passenger side. It's probably been a year. I don't drive much, maybe 4K miles/year, so it's just the rubber quality.

I have a spare axle which is in the bus, which I think is a Rock Auto cheapo with new boots on it.

I'm thinking of driving with the torn boots axle until it makes horrible noises or breaks and then I'd swap out that axle and scrap the broken one. Is this a dumb idea?
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78 TDI Sunroof Bus
Los Angeles

[ALIKA T3]

[Wildthings]

Anyone run these OE boots recently? I have had a set before and IIRC they were OEM VW boots that were reboxed.

https://dunebuggywarehouse.com/collections/axle-bo...11501149oe

[jasoncardenas21]

They're back in stock at GoWesty. On sale too. Still pricy for 4 boots, but at this point, I'm willing to take the gamble.

https://gowesty.com/products/rockford-cv-boot
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Today is the youngest you will be for the rest of your life, live it that way.
Stanford Cardinal for Life
Restore of my 1969 Beetle
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=501338

1970 Bay Window Bus Project
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=541529

1969 VW Westy is current project

[udidwht]

Now Feb 2024 and the Rockford CV boots I installed still show no signs of wear.
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1972 Westy Hardtop/Type-4 2056cc
96mm Biral AA P/C's~7.8:1CR
Headflow Masters New AMC 42x36mm heads w/Porsche swivel adjusters
71mm Stroke
73 Web Cam w/Web solids
Dual 40mm IDF Webers - LM-2 - 47.5 idles/125 mains/190 air corr./F11 tubes/28mm Vents - Float height 10.45mm/Drop 32mm
Bosch SVDA w/Pertronix module (7.5 initial 28 total @ 3400rpm)
Bosch W8CC plugs
Pertronix Flamethrower 40K coil
S&S 4-1 w/Walker QP 17862
3 rib 002 Trans
185R14 Hankook tires

[babysnakes]

I just picked up 4 of the VW Tiguan boots. The part # has been superseded and the new # is 2Q0-498-202. These boots are also used on other models. When I ordered them (4) I was told they would trickle in from different dealerships. Seems the supply chain hit these parts too. Well six days after the order they arrived. List price is now $56.67. I was quoted $49. The kid behind the counter wanted $56.67 I mentioned they were going on a 50 YO bus so he honored the $49. After paying he asked if there was anything else he could do so I said "Throw one of those hats into the bag." He asked which one I liked and gave me a free hat.

[vwwestyman]

Rather than quote my longish install post, here is a link to that post if you like:

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=9244822#9244822

Anyway, I was under the Bus last week cleaning the grounds and starter cables and noticed the condition of the boots.

Here is the driver side. As viewed in this pic, the stock replacement that was sourced from Bus Depot (ordered in 2018 and stored until Jan 1, 2020) is on the transmission side, OEM VW Tiguan boot is at the wheel.

Stock replacement boot on this side is leaking grease out the axle side, causing a large mess. The rib doesn't appear to be cracking though.

The Tiguan boot looks perfect if dusty.

On the passenger side, the boots are both starting to crack right at the axle.

I do wish I had two Tiguan boots and could have done a whole axle for the experiment, but alas I didn't.

Actually, at this point, I kind of wish I had installed 4 Tiguan boots! It looks very clear at this point that the Tiguan boot is going to be the winner of this experiment.

Current mileage is 90015. So the boots all have nearly only 3 years of use and only 8000ish miles. Bus has been driven in all sorts of weather conditions in that time.
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Dave Cook

President, Wild Westerner Club

1978 Champagne Edition Westy, repowered to '97 Jetta TDI
1973 Wild Westerner
My Thing

[Hot Rod Ron]

[Wildthings]

[udidwht]

[Hot Rod Ron]

Is there anyone who can get me colored CV type 2 boots? Really need a full set of turquoise cv boots but blue or red would work too.

[babysnakes]

I bought the Tiguan boots for my Westy. They look and feel very solid. Based on the fact that I got them from the VW dealership I think they should last for years. A bit pricey, but if they last as they should on a new car, worth every penny. We shall see.

[telford dorr]

One thing I've done with my boots is to periodically squirt and wipe them down with armor-all. Seems to keep them from getting cruddy and rough, by sealing out the oxygen and road crud. Did the same with ball joint and tie rod end boots. So far, so good. Will report future status...
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'71 panel, now with FI
'Experience' is the ability to recognize a mistake when you're making it again - Franklin P. Jones
In theory, theory works in practice; in practice, it doesn't - William T. Harbaugh
When you're dead, you don't know you're dead. The pain is only felt by others.
Same thing happens when you're stupid. - Philippe Geluck
More VW electrical at http://telforddorr.com/ (available 9am to 9pm PST)

[richparker]