Date:         Sun, 21 Nov 1999 17:57:04 -0500
Reply-To:     Matt Greenwell <matt-greenwell@UTC.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Matt Greenwell <matt-greenwell@UTC.EDU>
Organization: University of Tennessee
Subject:      cv boot woes
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; x-mac-type="54455854";
              x-mac-creator="4D4F5353"

a strange popping/knocking form the rear passenger wheel. i fear the
worst...having just replaced all four cv joints and boots, i imagined it
must be a cracked or badly worn bearing in the hub. no fun.

so imagine my surprise when, as i pull off the right axle, i see that
the outer cv boot is in tatters! upon closer inspection, i realize that
all of the boots are badly cracked and close to failure. the boots are
less than a year old, and have less than 5k on them. so i'm into a new
cv joint (to replace the outer right one which has cooked itself for
lack of lubrication) and i'm looking at pulling the other axle, and one
of the joints on that side, just to replace the other boots before they,
too, fail.

i know you all have better things to do than hear me spout off about bad
parts, so to the point. is there a source for good quality boots out
there? the last ones were mexican, the kind you see being sold at swap
meets and etc. (i got mine at a pretty respectible parts dealer). do i
need to go to the dealer to get oem? is there someone out there who
sells "super boots" that last forever? after having done this job twice
in 5 months, i'd rather not have to think about it again for a few
years.

please pmail, as i'm recently off the list...

advance thanks for your help!

matt greenwell
chattanooga, tn