How good are stretch boots? (CV, steering)

How good are those CV boots that can be installed without removing
the axle from the vehicle because the rubber is so stretchy that
even the small end of the boot can be stretched over the CV joint?
The boot is installed with either a stretcher or by slipping it
over a long cone that's lubed up.

There are also steering rack boots that stretch over the tie
rod ends, but I don't see the advantage of them because the
end still has to be separated from the steering knuckle. OTOH
do they last longer than boots made of regular neoprene rubber?

On Mon, 13 Oct 2014 04:06:58 -0700 (PDT),
wrote:

>How good are those CV boots that can be installed without removing
>the axle from the vehicle because the rubber is so stretchy that
>even the small end of the boot can be stretched over the CV joint?
>The boot is installed with either a stretcher or by slipping it
>over a long cone that's lubed up.
>
>There are also steering rack boots that stretch over the tie
>rod ends, but I don't see the advantage of them because the
>end still has to be separated from the steering knuckle. OTOH
>do they last longer than boots made of regular neoprene rubber?


I've used a split boot to do a temporary repair that has lasted most
of 10 years. The split boots don't have a good rep so I check it each
time I change the oil. So far so good.

D F Bonnett > wrote:
>On Mon, 13 Oct 2014 04:06:58 -0700 (PDT),
>wrote:
>
>>How good are those CV boots that can be installed without removing
>>the axle from the vehicle because the rubber is so stretchy that
>>even the small end of the boot can be stretched over the CV joint?
>>The boot is installed with either a stretcher or by slipping it
>>over a long cone that's lubed up.
>>
>>There are also steering rack boots that stretch over the tie
>>rod ends, but I don't see the advantage of them because the
>>end still has to be separated from the steering knuckle. OTOH
>>do they last longer than boots made of regular neoprene rubber?
>
>I've used a split boot to do a temporary repair that has lasted most
>of 10 years. The split boots don't have a good rep so I check it each
>time I change the oil. So far so good.

Boots in general don't have a good reputation and probably ought to be
checked on every oil change. I have also used the split boots on my
wife's subaru and so far it's outlasted the original.

My feeling was that once the boot is damaged, the joint is probably
bad, and that cleaning it and putting a new boot on was just a temporary
measure. But so far it's been 80,000 miles of temporary measure.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."