Anyone have any ball joint boot ripping issues?
68AutoBug - August 16th, 2013 at 11:24 AM
I have replaced all My ball joint and tie rod end boots before...
My 68 Beetle had all new tie rod ends and ball joints fitted when it was restored before being registered in Dec 2005
shortly after, I found that most boots had been ripped apart..
when the large end turns it looks like the small end doesn't.. so the boot is ripped apart.. I replaced some again last year before Valla, including
a new ball joint, but I have two ball joint boots ripped again..
Any good guaranteed boots out there?? I think all the ones I used were from REPCO ???
Maybe need neoprene.. or polyuethane ??
is this a rare problem??
LEE
bajachris88 - August 16th, 2013 at 11:32 AM
I am currently using the repco ones.
I ahve different issues, where the big end comes off the flange (despite the rubber band holding it there) due to too much movement.
When i reinstall, i really push the small end up the taper to ensure its not pulling on the big end to try and prevent this.
A bit of ball joint appropriate grease on the taper/small end surface might allow the small end if hte boot to move up and down freely as required to
not pull/tear the centre.
68AutoBug - August 16th, 2013 at 12:09 PM
Hi Chris
Yes, it just looks like its a dry joint problem, but I fill the boots up with grease and make sure the small end can move on the spindle..
maybe the big end should also move??
some ball joints have a wire ring holding the large end of the rubber boot,,
and some have a spring etc.. but all look like they are made to hold that end of the rubber fixed..??
Maybe We need longer boots.. so they don't get stretched..
but My car doesn't leave the highways.. lol
LEE
bajachris88 - August 16th, 2013 at 12:33 PM
Yea the big ends aren't meant to move. Mine are secured with the springs sorry, not rubber bands (was rubber bands initially).
I wonder if german quality is still available? That might cure the woes, although i wouldn't be game to try NOS rubber boots. After all this time,
the rubber would surely be ready to go kaputt.
| Quote: |
Originally
posted by 68AutoBug
Hi Chris
Yes, it just looks like its a dry joint problem, but I fill the boots up with grease and make sure the small end can move on the spindle..
maybe the big end should also move??
some ball joints have a wire ring holding the large end of the rubber boot,,
and some have a spring etc.. but all look like they are made to hold that end of the rubber fixed..??
Maybe We need longer boots.. so they don't get stretched..
but My car doesn't leave the highways.. lol
LEE
|
68AutoBug - August 16th, 2013 at 05:37 PM
Hi Chris
Yes, I agree, NOS rubber boots would be a little hard by now.. lol
so, not very flexible... NOW..
cheers
LEE
DubbyDo - August 16th, 2013 at 10:42 PM
All my new empi ones (I know I know) cracked and split within the first 8 months of fitting. Wont make that mistake again
,saying that I don't want to go and replace them to have the same
happen to a better( more expensive) set again so soon
vwo60 - August 17th, 2013 at 07:46 AM
I bought some road safe boots from bursons, they seam really ggod quality.
AA003 - August 17th, 2013 at 04:18 PM
| Quote: |
Originally
posted by 68AutoBug
Hi Chris
Yes, I agree, NOS rubber boots would be a little hard by now.. lol
so, not very flexible... NOW..
cheers
LEE
|
Why?
rickp - August 17th, 2013 at 06:04 PM
I got some ball joints with extra clearance from the states ( so they don't bind if I go extra low) and the rubber is already deteorating., does any
one make replacement rubber for ball joints?
vwo60 - August 17th, 2013 at 07:07 PM
as above.
rickp - August 17th, 2013 at 07:23 PM
Oops,. Missed that post. Will make a trip to burson's thank you.
68AutoBug - August 17th, 2013 at 07:48 PM
| Quote: |
Originally
posted by AA003
| Quote: | Originally
posted by 68AutoBug
Hi Chris
Yes, I agree, NOS rubber boots would be a little hard by now.. lol
so, not very flexible... NOW..
cheers
LEE
|
Why?
|
Rubber in the old days was generally mostly rubber...
and it deteriated over time....
and went hard as a rock... so it was hard but not flexible as it was when made...
I have heard of people with NOS windscreen rubber and its not flexible enough to be fitted to a car.. same as door rubbers...
LEE
AA003 - August 18th, 2013 at 07:12 AM
| Quote: |
Originally
posted by 68AutoBug
Rubber in the old days was generally mostly rubber...
and it deteriated over time....
and went hard as a rock... so it was hard but not flexible as it was when made...
I have heard of people with NOS windscreen rubber and its not flexible enough to be fitted to a car.. same as door rubbers...LEE
|
Just because your car was made in '68 doesn't mean the rubbers that you buy were. They could have been produced in 2009.
vlad01 - August 18th, 2013 at 10:49 AM
| Quote: |
Originally
posted by vwo60
I bought some road safe boots from bursons, they seam really ggod quality.
|
+ 1
the road safe ones are the only aftermarket ones that last I have found. Have not have one deteriorate at all yet despite few years of horrible harsh
roads and driving conditions and nearly 140k.
Had some other boots that came with "OEM" (likely china) ball joints and they fell apart in 2 months, same as the tie rod ends.
roadsafe FTW!
vlad01 - August 18th, 2013 at 10:52 AM
| Quote: |
Originally
posted by 68AutoBug
| Quote: | Originally
posted by AA003
| Quote: | Originally
posted by 68AutoBug
Hi Chris
Yes, I agree, NOS rubber boots would be a little hard by now.. lol
so, not very flexible... NOW..
cheers
LEE
|
Why?
|
Rubber in the old days was generally mostly rubber...
and it deteriated over time....
and went hard as a rock... so it was hard but not flexible as it was when made...
I have heard of people with NOS windscreen rubber and its not flexible enough to be fitted to a car.. same as door rubbers...
LEE
|
I disagree. I find majority of NOS rubbers very soft and pliable. Some go hard due to poor storage.
I have some NOS type 3 boots for ball joints and the are soft as.
things like door, hood and boot rubbers do go hard but they aren't really rubber. its like a high density foam of sort.
68AutoBug - August 18th, 2013 at 04:40 PM
Hi Vlad
rubber products that are kept in the dark with no sunlight etc may be OK...
Can Anyone can give Me a part number for a ROADSAFE 1968> Beetle ball joint rubber boot??
Ball joint numbers BJ131 and BJ132 ROADSAFE CATALOG
Boots should be the same for both .. but none listed..
I couldn't find any...?? but would like to order some..
LEE