'03 CV boot question:

[molex]

I was going to do the CV boot mod, with hose clamps, but when I looked at my CV boots they already have metal bands around each end. Is this something that pre-'03's didn't have? Should I remove the bands and replace them with hose-clamps, or is that just redundant?

Planning on using a 4" clamp on the large end and a 2" on the small end of the CV boots.

Haven't had any problems since my 2" lift, but just want to be safer instead of sorrier.

Comments?

[themadsurfer]

I have a 4X4 and have a king coil over lift on the front only.
I lifted it about 2 1/4" inches.
I only have 900 miles on it since the lift.
The boots didn't leak until I put the 4 wheel drive
system to use.
After that the upper boots leaked at the upper band.
The boots were't torn, the factory band is just not tight enough.
You could squeeze grease out with your finger.
I had the bands replaced with real clamps the other day.
It looks a lot tighter and feels tighter.
The clamps are a bit tricky to get off since you don't want
to damage the boot.
Took about 45-1 hour to do.
Take your time doing it.
Only have about125 miles since the clamp/band conversion.
I'll let you know down the road how it worked out.
If you don't want to do it yourself, where do you live and they're
might be someone out there who will do it.

the mad surfer

[molex]

Originally Posted by themadsurfer

I have a 4X4 and have a king coil over lift on the front only.
I lifted it about 2 1/4" inches.
I only have 900 miles on it since the lift.
The boots didn't leak until I put the 4 wheel drive
system to use.
After that the upper boots leaked at the upper band.
The boots were't torn, the factory band is just not tight enough.
You could squeeze grease out with your finger.
I had the bands replaced with real clamps the other day.
It looks a lot tighter and feels tighter.
The clamps are a bit tricky to get off since you don't want
to damage the boot.
Took about 45-1 hour to do.
Take your time doing it.
Only have about125 miles since the clamp/band conversion.
I'll let you know down the road how it worked out.
If you don't want to do it yourself, where do you live and they're
might be someone out there who will do it.

the mad surfer

Thanks, that's all I needed to hear. I'll do the boot mod before I use 4x, hopefully this week.

[DevinSixtySeven]

just use pliers and squeeze the clamp section together, it'll release with a little wiggling.

[molex]

Originally Posted by DeepStealth

just use pliers and squeeze the clamp section together, it'll release with a little wiggling.

Yeah, it looked like a tension clamp to me. Doing this mod tomorrow, don't really need it, I think, (less than 2" lift), but I am really uptight about preventing damage to my truck before it has a chance to happen.

Now, if I only felt that way about my body.....

[themadsurfer]

excalty.
this way you'll know that it wont be leaking
grease from the boot clamp

[themadsurfer]

i've put my 4X4 to use twice this month, some serious wheeling, and some just cruising, and the boots haven't leaked at all. Sounds like that fixed the problem.

[Zombie]

What type of clamps did you use? I plan on doing the mod to my 2001 4x. Just installed the Kings today. No problems, yet...

[themadsurfer]

I used regular hose clamps.
nothing special.
also if you just did it,
there's a lot of talk about how under full
droop/compression there's a clunking noise.
you might want to look into all that as well.
it's under suspension/handling entitled, clunking noise
w/ king coilovers

[Zombie]

Thanks "TheMadSurfer." Yeah, I read the posts about the clunking problem. Haven't really tested it yet but so far so good. The shop that installed the Kings couldn't say enough good things about them. The ride is far superior to stock. I found the stock setup too soft. I put 9000's out back to stiffen it as well.

[themadsurfer]

yeah keep us posted on how those work out for you