Can you actually protect rubber CV boots?

I saw that my 2001 tacoma CV boots are really dry looking and also noticed one is finally leaking from the seal, not torn yet but you can see bits of grease flinging out. But the boots overall look dry and dirty, is there a way to keep boots pliable or some kind of rubber conditioner to keep them lasting longer or is that an old wives tale?

 

I think they're a type of EPDM rubber, a water based tire shine might help them a little bit. Avoid silicone based lubes or cleaners though, they leech the plasticisors out of the rubber

 

I wipe whatever is caked on the boot once in a while and spray 303 on it.

 

For what it is worth Silicone spray seems to help.

I spray all the rubber molding in the doors The Air intake tube .

It seems to help.

 

Interesting I have been using it for years on all the rubber parts.

Can you please explain just what harm it does ??

 

21 years old. You got your moneys worth out of that set. CV joints don’t see much UV (sun) so I don’t see much benefit of spray protectants.

 

I've wondered about this and have considered using

$15 ATP Automotive AT-205 Re-Seal Stops Leaks, 8 Ounce Bottle

ATP-AT205 Reseal on them.

 

I'm no rubber scientist. But I remember reading about the reaction between silicone and natural rubbers that caused them to lose their UV stability and their outer layer would begin to harden. That said I have used products like Shin-Etsu grease (some form of silicone lube) on those foam rubber door seals before and it makes them swell up nicely and not stuck in the winter. It may be a some rubbers thing.

 

I got told about this long ago when I was part of the pit crew of a Drag Car The Main Support owned a speed shop .

Since most of my applications seldom see Direct Sunlight but for the vehicle sat outside for years with no hood.

It could very well be the different rubber compounds.

I have never really seen damage over the last 40 years.

 

My first CV boots failed at 60k miles with a 2.5" lift. I then started using a silicone spray on them nearly every time I washed the truck. I'm now at 275k miles, so over 200k miles on the current boots. I can feel the cut mark on the inner, but barely. If the boots are dirty I wash with soapy water before treating. I thought I heard that Toyota improved the design at some point so that might have something to do with it also.