Aircooled VW South Africa

Has anyone come across swing axle boots that don't crack and fall apart within 1 year?

I've tried rubber ones which lasted about 6 months and I've tried those expensive EMPI ones made of neoprene which last about 1 year.
I'm getting gatvol with the constant replacing and at the moment I'm just letting the oil drip out of the boots where ever I park because I HATE fitting those boots.

This is unfortunately the only part I still by from volspares. Be careful, they make 2 sizes. My car only accepts the one with the thinner joint (compare them and you will see). I am bringing in a set from the USA to see if they work...

I've had no problems with my EMPI boots on the buggy, even after the occasional off-road driving in which the swing arms travel a lot more up an down than a normal road-going VW. Have you installed them correctly? I've fitted mine with the 'seam' (the part where the small screws come together) at an angle of about 45 degrees forward. You should also jack the wheel up so that the swing arm is about parralel to the ground when fitting them, and ensure that there is not too much strain on the rubber when the wheel is lowered again

Pine wrote:I've had no problems with my EMPI boots on the buggy, even after the occasional off-road driving in which the swing arms travel a lot more up an down than a normal road-going VW. Have you installed them correctly? I've fitted mine with the 'seam' (the part where the small screws come together) at an angle of about 45 degrees forward.

I've fitted them with the seam horizontal to the ground since that way the seam doesn't have to stretch but only bend. I also tried with the seam at the top - it didn't seem to make any difference on longevity.

You should also jack the wheel up so that the swing arm is about parralel to the ground when fitting them, and ensure that there is not too much strain on the rubber when the wheel is lowered again

Yeah I use some special stops my father made whenever I jack the car up. The axles stay level with the ground.
The problem doesn't seem to be the flexing as much as the quality of the materials. They start cracking up all over the place as if the material is just perishing. I thought it was just a case of Brazilian rubber quality but the EMPI ones don't seem to be much better.

Oh well ... maybe just one of those things.
At least I don't have to mess with expensive CV joints.

Maybe one should treat the rubber every now and then?

Pine wrote:Maybe one should treat the rubber every now and then?

My father suggested that next time I coat the entire boot in silicon rubber.
Expensive but it might just work.