Thread: Axle Boots

I have had axle boot issues for quite some time. My boots were ripped so I pulled the axles and had them rebuilt. The boot on the longer passenger side axle split and threw its grease everywhere within like 2k miles. I had no choice at that point (because I was moving) but to get a DIY boot kit and put it on the joint myself without taking the axle out. This crappy boot has been letting the grease fly out but it has not torn (shocking considering that it has little screws that hold it together down one side ).

Where and how do you guys usually get your axles fixed? There is no need to buy new ones, these are in great shape. But where do I find boots that will not rip?

TIA, Will

You should take that axle back to the shop that rebuilt it again.
They will remove any dirtty/gritty grease, clean the joint box & repack w/grease inside of a new boot..
Make sure they use the thickest boot in the shop this time.

Rebuilt OEM axles is waaaay better & will last much longer than any remanufactured axle purchased in most cases.
You just have to make sure that the shop uses quality parts & quality grease...

i usually buy the neoprene boot kit from drivewire.com


very tough rubber, and comes with it's own grease.

First, it was like 2 years ago, second, the shop is over 300 miles away.

These are OEM axles.



thanks, i'll take a look

Are you referring to the EMPI brand ones? I don't see anything there that specifies the neoprene version. Did you try these Will?

IIRC it doesn't say neoprene on the site, it says it on the box , it's been awhile tho ...

Ah you bought the quick fix boots, where you have two halves and put them together right? Those are as crappy as they can get.

The way I fixed mine is, you beat out the part that goes into the knuckle, so you are left with just the straight axle, slip the new boot on (I got mine from autozone), beat on the knuckle part, buy some better clamps then they provide (unless you have the tool to tighten those), and call it a day.

Mine so far have lasted about 9 months with boost, and I kinda tore them when my new strut shot down and the axle was the only thing that caught it.

yeah the EMPI axle boot kit comes with the bands that use this tool , i bought it awhile back when i redid my boots, it works like a charm...

Any problems with using regular hose clamps? I don't think balancing would be an issue?

I think I tried to use that tool, when it failed miserably I returned it and used pliers haha



Not that I've seen so far?

Only thing that came even close was clearance of the new ball joint, but I used the old nut and it worked fine.