Date: Sat, 14 Jan 2012 08:33:09 -0500
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: CV boots--again
In-Reply-To: <FE7FB99F-F10F-4240-B246-900075DFB4AE@gmail.com>
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Since the US Dollar started its decline along with what seems to be VW's desire to drop all Vanagon parts support many OEM parts prices have skyrocketed. This is one example where the dealer does not make sense except maybe for the Syncro front outer boot kits as they have the correct axle nut. For the rears the major advantage of the dealer kit is the grease, (white tube). As for short life of the aftermarket boot kits just avoid the real cheap ones. Do not over pack the joint. A properly packed CV joint should not have grease in the boot.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of James Felder
Sent: Friday, January 13, 2012 6:27 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: CV boots--again
I was at the dealership the other day in a quest for an über-rare Jetta EcoDiesel part and while at the counter I thought I would ask the guy about Vanagon CV boots. I heard tell on this list how the OEM boots were heavy and pliable like boots of yore, and not like the paper-thin six months or six miles version I get at my VW shop. I have practiced what I call my Vanagon poker face for years and years and by now I am good at it. I can be told that a steering v-box will set me back $900 or that a diesel spider hose will cost $450 without revealing the stabbing pain, like an apache warrior. But when I saw the figure $199.30 for a set of four boots, my weakness was palpable and the parts guy could sense that I was run to ground. I grasped the counter to steady myself and looked over the counter straight ahead at the new Lamborghini pulling up outside. There was a pause in my speech. The parts guy filled the awkward silence so as not to leave me totally humiliated: "that comes with new bolts and zip ties."
New bolts and zip ties? Have they lost their minds, I thought? This is the kind of oh-just-have-the-whole-soda line of thinking that bankrupted the airline industry.
I almost asked "how much better could they be to cost five times as much as I have been buying?" but I knew better. That would be giving him too much information. He would mentally use the fact that I have been buying crap against me somehow.
So I am asking you instead: can dealer boots be worth $200? Are they that much better?
Jim