Puckered CV boot

Hey all,

I just installed a set of NAPA front axles as my OEMs had one boot start to leak and others showed dry rot. I'm going to reboot the OEMs at a later date. BUT on the inside passenger side boot of new axle the boot is puckered, like the air was sucked out of it. Didn't look like that on install but after a couple of days of driving... I searched the forum and web for such a phenomenon but found nada. I tried pulling on it a bit to straighten but didn't work. Any experience with this out in TACOLAND? Thanks

 

I've had that happen a couple times. My theory is the air in the CV is heated, expands and escapes. The remaining air cools and shrinks collapsing the boot. The hole in my theory is I don't think there's enough air in the boot to make this happen.

Edit: Got any pics?

 

So did anything come of it? Did the boots stay puckered and perform well?

My daughter drove off with it. I'll get pix later today and post. But it looks like the air was sucked from it.

 

Yeah, no problems. When I rebooted them I put some tube in there as a sort of breather. I think it didn't work. It collapsed and puckered again.
I used the same tube that comes with WD-40...the red ones. I bought a bunch on Amazon. While I don't think it actually worked at least I have a bunch of those spare tubes now.

 

So I searched forum again but used the term, "CV boot suction" and found a thread
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/cv-boot-sucked-in.351738/
They pushed a Basketball needle under the clamp to re-pressurize.

 

I would go with the other suggestion in that thread before "inflating" your CV boot. It's likely just stretched out.

Air getting trapped in (or out) of a CV boot isn't really a thing as far as I've ever heard (or experienced).

 

I wasn't going to inflate it but rather equalize the pressure. And the problem is not that the boot is extended too far. There is negative pressure inside.

Anyways there is no way a Bball needle is getting under that clamp...I tried. Credit to the NAPA axles...they are tight. So I looked at clips and it appears I just fold back the two tabs, lift strap and allow a slight air gap briefly. I just hope doing the reverse will seal it tight enough to avoid future grease leaking.

 

The axle slides in and out of the inner joint when the car bounces up and down over bumps, so the volume inside isn't constant. This is probably why the air gets pumped out. I don't think a one-time air equalization will change anything, and I'm not sure if a small breather tube would allow air in and out fast enough. It would probably just get clogged with grease.

 

The fins on your CVs appear much more spread out than what I've seen before, but that could just be your pics, too.

I'm just highly skeptical that the issue is really related to air pressure/vacuum. The searching I've done seems more likely that it's just weather related, or the boot slid.

 

So you all are saying leave it be, not a problem?

 

you might need to remove the clamps, fix it, and reclamp it.

 

Dang that boot looks like how mine did when all the grease flung out of it when it got punctured by a rock. I wonder if maybe there's just not enough grease in it.

 

No, not really. Some people on other forums with similar issues "left it alone" and the next day it returned to "normal".

Not sure, I'd just leave it alone, though. seems like a boot in that kind of shape is more likely to tear, which would create even more problems for you.

Just seems like it's a issue with the boot being stretched out. I'm certainly no expert, just one of many idiots with an internet connection, lol.

Might look into the "boot slide mod", or just pushing the small end of the boot back a little farther, if you haven't tried that yet.

I think he said it's brand new, so I'd hope that's not the case!

 

So here it is. There was definitely negative pressure in there. I loosened the larger clamp-figured that one would be easiest to work with-and then slipped bball needle in(least sharp object). There was immediate suction and bolt came back to life.

Then I took said needle and with a pair of small channel locks without loosening band, pushed it under band of other axle boot as that one showed some puckering but far less then other axle. I had to "massage" them a bit to get last little bit of deformity out. Having channel locks on hand inspired use. Give a man a tool and maybe he won't be one.

The boots do look like they are installed extended more at inboard boots then outboard boots which is fine by me as fins or folds won't rub...that's the purpose of the extended boot mod is it not, and I have a mild lift. That being said they are by no stretch(pardon the pun) of the imagination over extended.

So bottom line...there was negative pressure in the boot causing deformation which could very well lead to early failure as mentioned by jbrandt. You can easily push a bball needle under without loosening clamp using channel locks or similar with no grease. I've got a good grip but it was darn near impossible by hand. Other probes could be used but be careful because the boot folds in toward axle shaft just inside the clamp and you don't want to puncture it with anything too pointed or sharp.

Thanks to all for your support. As usual it was a pleasure.

 

Had this happen to me today after installing new CV axles on my truck. Slid a small flat head screwdriver under the inner boot clamp and rotated it just enough to watch the boot “inflate.” Worked perfectly.

 

Its almost been 5 years, I'm sure he's figured it out already.

 

haha brother I know. But it happened to me today and the first thing I did was check TW and this thread popped up. So I was just doing my civil duty and posting what worked for me to let folks know. Cheers.