Just replaced axle boots.

[Twin Pinzies]

I just replaced the rear axle boots with the split style. I put the seams at ten o'clock and two o'clock to keep the flexing part away from the seams. One question though. When I removed each boot, a small amount of gear oil came out of each side. Did it leak in there from the gear box? Is swapping the boots as simple as just swapping the boots? Or is there any lubricating that needs to be done before installing the new boots?

Oh yeah, is there a trick to getting the seams to stay together while stretching them into place? Keeping them sealed shut while installing them is frustrating!

[Wayne Roberts]

Seal them before you pull them into final position and they will stay sealed while streching into place.

[springhill]

Your wipe seal may need to be replaced. My boot was about half full of oil and I replaced the wipe seal and put a new one piece boot on. No more leak.

john

[JKarber]

I've got the same issue where I've got a leak from the rear axle at the boot. Until now, I've just been topping off the fluid, but think that it is about time to fix it right. I've looked all over the board and net for answerers to a few questions, and so far haven't found the answer.

1) When the sealing ring that the boot attaches to fails, does it always look bad? I've pulled off my boot and the "wipe seal" looked okay, but the leak persists -especially after prolonged driving at speed.
2) The service manual makes a reference to greasing up the surface with something it calls alfalub? Does the grease make up part of the seal, and if I need to do it during the R&R what domestically available grease is recommended?
3) Behind the ring is a heavy piece of rubber that surrounds the axle shaft housing (a stop ring?). This piece does not look to contribute to the overall sealing, but it has to be there for a reason. Mine looks to have flattened out somewhat on one side, and is not perfectly circular like the pics that I see of new ones. Should I replace this when doing the job?
4) The partial ball surface that the seal meets up against looks to be like a plastic surface, where the pics that I find online look more metallic (like a less shiny version of the ball at the front wheel hubs.) Are there multiple versions out there, or am I just mis-identifying anything?
5) I plan to do the job based on what I've read online. Any recommendations on the best place to purchase all of the stuff? EI and SAV look to be at the top of the current list. I've had good experience with SAV, but EI looks to have better prices.

Sorry if I missed any of the answers above in prior posts -I did try to look and find it. I know that there are some serious technical resources here, and hope that it would be a quick and simple answer for them. While I am on that topic, thanks to all who have contributed in the past, as I have hardly turned a bolt or did an upgrade without silently learning from your discussions.

[Erik712m]

Jason, Both places are great to order from. I highly recommend Scott's (E.I.) very easy to work with he also seems, to come up with a lot of improvements for the pinz. I had European Auto here replace the wipe seal it seemed to stop the oil collection in the boot.

[Pinz Enthusiast]

Hey guys,

I've had similar issues with two axle boots and had Jim L. replace the stop rings and seals on both, while there is the boots were good we left them bad boots were replaced with factory one piece and the split boots stay in the factory packaging under the passenger floor board incase I need to do a trail repair, I got my parts from SAV, it's about $248.00 per axel, 3 parts needed, stop ring, O ring, and ring metal, Jim did the work as he has the tools and the place to do it.

[krick3tt]

I am about to replace the OEM, one piece, RR axle boot.

What should I use to seal it before putting it in place?
Where to get the sealer, Napa? Is it advisable to reuse the same clamps, they look to be OK.

Cheers,
Morris