86 EA-81 Hatch

 

Went to Schmucks, now O'reileys got a CV boot band, it was a cheepy and didn't work a lick.

 

Went back, got a boot kit ordered, well 2 actually, cause both sides need fixin.

 

Picked up boots, installed new boot, inner clamp good to go, big-end clamp a no-go, it was too big.

 

Went to Autozone, got a PnA on their boot kit, 30 bucks after tax. WTF, same kit was 8 at Schmucks.

 

Will be paying Napa a visit tomorrow..

 

 

 

If things don't go well there I'll be getting a boot kit set from Rockford CV

 

 

Has anyone used a hose clamp on the big end CV joint?

 

In addition, has anyone dealt with auto parts warehouse, I'm thinking about some EMPI axles, but if I can use my subaru bucks and get the subarugenuineparts.com price on OEM i'll be doing that, they are 100 bucks a pop right now.

Edited September 16, 201015 yr by NoahDL88
adding stuffs?

All the boot kits I use are the EMPI boot kits and I've not had a single problem with installation or complaint about them yet. I did get a set once that was too small for the cup it needed to go on but I went back and brought the axle and a match was found using a part number for a different model/year. All the boot kits are $12 at my retailer and come with new spring clips and grease packs, etc.

 

You do need a boot clamp tool for the clamps included - about $15 IIRC.

 

I used hose clamps on my rear axle boots in my lifted wagon. They will work. I did it for ease of field replacement. I just used stainless hardware store clamps but it would be really nice to get some of the 6mm wide VW axle boot worm clamps. I've seen them in kits but haven't tried real hard to source them individually.

 

EMPI axles are pretty decent in my experience. I've had one boot failure on my hatch after about 4 years of daily driving.

 

Another member just arranged to get a set from my source for $69 each and have another member (renob123/Jacob - I think you have met him) drop them off up in the Seattle area to him. You might contact Jacob and see if he can get you a set and bring them up on Friday at the same time..... or just the boot kits for $12 each if you want those.

 

GD

Edited September 16, 201015 yr by GeneralDisorder

I use bailing wire twist until tight works pretty good

I use bailing wire twist until tight works pretty good

 

Stainless aircraft lock wire would be a better choice but both are inferior to a 1/4" or 6mm wide worm clamp as they are 100% reusable with only a screwdriver.

 

GD

Last time I went looking locally for boot bands, came up empty at NAPA and C/S/K/O'Reillys. AutoZone came through for me, and their 2-band kit was less than 3 bucks. The quality was not the greatest, but it didn't require the band tool (which neither NAPA or O'reillys had seemed to have heard about). My issue was needing boot/bands for an SVX, which none of the 3 parts places showed available any closer than Illinois or Indiana.

86 EA-81 Hatch

 

Went to Schmucks, now O'reileys got a CV boot band, it was a cheepy and didn't work a lick.

 

Went back, got a boot kit ordered, well 2 actually, cause both sides need fixin.

 

Picked up boots, installed new boot, inner clamp good to go, big-end clamp a no-go, it was too big.

 

Went to Autozone, got a PnA on their boot kit, 30 bucks after tax. WTF, same kit was 8 at Schmucks.

 

Will be paying Napa a visit tomorrow..

 

 

 

If things don't go well there I'll be getting a boot kit set from Rockford CV

 

 

Has anyone used a hose clamp on the big end CV joint?

 

In addition, has anyone dealt with auto parts warehouse, I'm thinking about some EMPI axles, but if I can use my subaru bucks and get the subarugenuineparts.com price on OEM i'll be doing that, they are 100 bucks a pop right now.

 

I had a rotten experience with Auto Parts Warehouse. If you get the exact thing you want, and it arrives unharmed, and it's not defective, then you should be fine. If anything goes less-than-perfectly, and you have to call their customer service, you'll wish you had ordered elsewhere. Their entire CS department is in India, and the ones I spoke to were beyond rude and certainly unhelpful.

 

Bremerton isn't exactly on my route, but it wouldn't be that hard to bring some EMPIs from Portland up there. $100 for dealer ones would be hard to beat, though.

 

Jacob

zip ties?? ive heard thatll work

 

worm clamps do seem a better choice tho

RV

zip ties?? ive heard thatll work

 

If you used big, strong ties it would probably work. The trouble is going to be in tightening them enough to ensure the boot won't pull free. It will be a fight between the tensile strength of the zip tie, the tools you have for tightening them, how flexible the tie material is, and how "squishy" the boot rubber is. Sounds like a real mess to me and I wouldn't go that route unless I had no other options. The metal boot clamps are REALLY TIGHT when done properly - they compress the rubber of the boot in a serious way. The boots will pull out from under the clamp or off the cup unless they are very tight.

 

GD

I go to Bow Wow in lynnwood for the empi stuff in the seattle area. They have always done me right and are usually just a day out on orders. They do mostly VW but dabble in subaru too.

I just rebooted my first axles on my xt6, I used empi kits and had no problems at all. Ordered along with the cv clamp tool from a carquest here on the coast.

Edited September 17, 201015 yr by T'subaru

does the empi kit use Odeker clamps or those funny fold over clamps?

The funny foldover ones. I got two kinds of foldovers in two box's though, one with lock tabs and one thats a straight foldover type. (I just did this.)

does the empi kit use Odeker clamps or those funny fold over clamps?

 

The EMPI kits use these ("Ear type"):

 

http://www.oetiker.com/content.asp?l=4&idNavig=183

 

They are not the stock fold-over style. They use a special installation tool which was about $10 IIRC - from the same place I get my boot kits. It's this one:

 

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&expIds=25657,25907,26515,26565&sugexp=ldymls&xhr=t&q=performance+tool+boot+clamp&cp=27&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&wrapid=tljp1284743301259116&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=12012613235868072141&ei=l6CTTOWPJYP4swOJ2Ny_Cg&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=result&resnum=1&sqi=2&ved=0CBoQ8wIwAA#

 

GD

Nice, I like the Oteiker joint, already have the tool. I suppose I'll be making a call to Bow Wow on Monday

Went to Napa, when I said odeiker clamp they knew exactly what I was talking about, got two and I'm good to go.

 

My personal rating of car parts stores in Bremerton

 

1. Napa

1.5 O'Reileys

 

 

 

 

42 Autozone

Which Bremerton NAPA store did you go to?

the one on 303

I usually end up at Kitsap Way or Silverdale. I'll need some more bands soon, so good local info to know.

zip ties?? ive heard thatll work...

 

Yep!

 

If you used big, strong ties it would probably work. ...

 

 

I Have over a Decade Runnin' my Subies with Zip Ties...

 

 

 

 

...Without Any Problem; Long Time Ago, when Those Big Strong ties (as you can see in my Subie Pic above) wasn't Available here in my Country, I Used to put Two thin Ties in Each Boot's End, without Any Problem.

 

Also I've Serviced other brand Cars (to Change Boots & Grease, and / or Axles) and the Zip Ties Does Hold there for all the Boot Lifetime... Also they Doesn't have Sharp Sides that can Cut the Boot and they're easy to take off if you want to re-grease the axle...

 

Well, I Just Wanted to Share my Own Experience.

Kind Regards.

Well, I Just Wanted to Share my Own Experience.

Kind Regards.

 

Thanks for the experienced answer to that question. I may give this a chance on my wheeler - the big zip ties are now availible almost everywhere and they are super cheap. Good to know they last longer than I had thought they would and are strong enough to keep the boot on.

 

GD

I'll probably throw a few in the wheeler, but I'll stick with the metal clamps for a more permanent solution, 2.09 is cheap insurance.

Thanks for the experienced answer to that question...

 

You're Welcome!

I Preffer the Zip Ties 'cos I have had many Troubles in the Past with the Sharp Edges of the Metal clamps... they could Cut the Boot...

Also those Zip Ties are Widely Used here in my Country...

I Have Traveled very Long Trips all Across Central America Drivin' the Subie with Zip Ties on the CV Joint's Boots without Any Fail.

Kind Regards.

Drivin' the Subie with Zip Ties on the CV Joint's Boots without Any Fail.

 

 

OK, I think you've sold me, I'll be getting some zip ties the next time I'm at the parts store.