Why wont my axle boot to pop into shape after install?
 

I just put in CVJ remans in my 85.

I have put maybe 450 miles on them - including a 330 mile trip tonight. This one boot won't pop into place - the others popped into shape within 50 miles.

Any tips/tricks/ideas on how to get it to pop out into shape? Or should I just keep driving and wait (and stop poking at it :D ).

dd

You could take one of the clamps loose and carefully slip a screwdriver between the boot and the axle and let some air into it. That should let it pop out,someone else might know an easier way.I don't think it being out of shape will hurt anything,although it may interfere with the flow of oil in some way,but I don't think so.

I'd be inclined to just run it like that and forget it's under there.

If you'll look closely...
 

Whoever clamped the ends of the boot,did it so that the small end is "Ahead of" the large end of the boot.(Kinda like the small end was "Clamped" with the
Half Shaft under Torsion.)
There's not just a Vacuum causing that effect.

I'd either return the Shaft.
Or release the deformity.
(Even if I had to end up putting another clamp on the boot!)

If you run it like that, it will fail. Well, they're all going to fail, but this one will fail much more quickly.

X2, you can see the misalignment in the boot by looking at the mold line on the bottom. There is twist on the rubber. I 2nd Matt L, that rubber boot will fail a lot faster than one that is on there correctly.

It would be fairly easy to remove the clamp and release the twist, then reclamp it with a similar clamp. You may also be able to twist the rubber boot with the clamp attached as it stands with a pipe wrench or something else without damaging the rubber

Thanks for the opinions.

CVJ has a three year warranty (unlimited mileage) and I'll call them in the morning Monday and see what they want me to do. They are great to deal with and I think offer a great product that they behind.

I like the idea of twisting it a bit to straighten it out.

They arrived not crushed in, but crushed on install. I've done axle shafts from them before and had no issues, so I don't think there's any way I could have created this issue.

I really don't want to take the whole thing off and swap it :-)

Called CVJ.

They explained that they run across this from time to time - where a boot won't pop back. It's because they are at 5000 feet and I'm at 300. The pressure inside the sealed boot is lower than the pressure at sea level - just enough to keep it 'puckered'.

Solution was to unclip the small end of the boot snd let air in - and it definitely was under negative pressure, air wooshed right in and the boot popped back into place.

I re-clamped it with a MB OE axle clamp I happened to have, and now all is well.

CVJ confirmed doing this would not void my warranty since I spoke with them first, and they offered to replace the axle at no charge if I would rather.

Glad to hear you got it figured out. I must say ,that is a very clean under belly for a daily driver. It must be a pleasure working under there.

Lol, they sound like a good company willing to back up their product. That must happen all the time

A few years ago one of the boots on a CVJ axle did that but it popped out on its own after driving awhile. The pressure differential idea is new to me and makes sense.