I blew a CV boot on one of my fairly new EMPI axles. They seem to be a little wider on the DOJ side than the ones that were in there before, so I'm wondering if a normal CV boot I can get at Napa or wherever would still fit. Has anyone had any luck with this? Thanks.

 

Jacob

i would think you're fine to replace it as long as the boot is for the proper axle. some axles look a bit different, but it's only cosmetic and not functional in difference.

Could always take the old boot off and use it to match one up. Or at least take it to compare just in case.

I seem to remember the inner DOJ's being a (slightly) larger diameter on my front EMPI's than the original ones. An original sized boot may still fit though.

 

Check the innards while you have it apart too.

the EMPI looks beefier from the outside... But uses teeny tiny needle bearings on 3 pins on the inside. I went through 3 axles in the past year, all had the little bearings grenade.

Lucky for me they all went under warranty (as in replacements were free). But now the guys at Discount Import look at me cross-eyed every time I go in there.

 

But that's a different thread altogether.

Could always take the old boot off and use it to match one up. Or at least take it to compare just in case.

I seem to remember the inner DOJ's being a (slightly) larger diameter on my front EMPI's than the original ones. An original sized boot may still fit though.

 

Check the innards while you have it apart too.

the EMPI looks beefier from the outside... But uses teeny tiny needle bearings on 3 pins on the inside. I went through 3 axles in the past year, all had the little bearings grenade.

Lucky for me they all went under warranty (as in replacements were free). But now the guys at Discount Import look at me cross-eyed every time I go in there.

 

But that's a different thread altogether.

 

The EMPIs are definitely wider. The old axles didn't come nearly as close to the steering shaft as the EMPI DOJ does. Are there any quality axles that come in a smaller diameter DOJ? I suspect some mud got stuck between the steering shaft and DOJ and forced the hose clamp thing off.

 

I have a rallyx in 1.5 weeks, so I'm looking for a pretty quick fix. I'd hate to have to unretire the STI after only one rallyx in the Brat. I figured the Brat would make it at least a season:-)

 

Jacob

The regular replacement CV boot will fit the EMPI. You might have to wrestle it a bit, but it will go. I've done two replacements, one went right on, the other took a little bit more gentle persuasion (about 5 min.). Both have worked fine since then ~1yr.