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#1
03-03-2012, 08:19 AM
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Axle Boot Salvage
While I have my '91 on the lift, I've been poking around to see what I can do underneath the car. One thing I'd like to do is get some additional life out of the axle boots. They are intact, but covered in hardened dirt. Has anyone had any success in cleaning and treating these to extend their life?
Thanks!
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Chief 1991 350SD 
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#2
03-03-2012, 01:47 PM
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I don't know if anyone has successfully extended the life or not - a bit difficult to tell...
...but cleanliness is next to... ...and a bit of that aerospace303 stuff should help 303 Products, Inc.: 303 Aerospace Protectant on Your Vehicles Rubber Seals
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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver 1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone 1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy! 1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior  Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!
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#3
03-03-2012, 05:34 PM
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I've been mopping up the atf that leaked out onto the floor with a few rags and using that to clean the dirt off the boots. They are cleaning up nicely. The 303 suggestion is a good one, thanks.
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Chief 1991 350SD
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#4
03-03-2012, 05:47 PM
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I've also thought about, but never tried coating my boots with rubberized under coating...
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2004 F150 4.6L -My Daily 2007 Volvo XC70 -Wife's Daily 1998 Ford F150 -Rear ended 1989 J-spec 420SEL -passed onto its new keeper 1982 BMW 733i -fixed and traded for the 420SEL 2003 Volvo V70 5 Speed -scrapped 1997 E290 Turbo Diesel Wagon -traded for above 1992 BMW 525i -traded in 1990 Silver 300TE -hated the M103 1985 Grey 380SE Diesel Conversion, 2.47 rear end, ABS -Sold, really should have kept this one 1979 Silver 300D "The Silver Slug" -Sold
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#5
03-04-2012, 07:39 AM
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Quote:
...in my experience stuff like that has an amazing ability to stick to things that you don't want it to (like your face, hair, teeth, clothes etc) but put it where it could do some good and it'll slide off and be stubborn like a truculent teenager...
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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver 1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone 1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy! 1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!
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#6
03-04-2012, 07:58 AM
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Don't use ATF to lubricate those boots! ATF has a nasty habit of dissolving rubber. Have a quick look at the engine mounts after a prolonged power steering pump leak. The rubber will be an oozing mass.
Use mineral spirits or paint thinner (NOT lacquer thinner!) to clean the boots. If they are cracked then nothing will restore them. You can prolong their life with Aerospace 303 but they are a "wear" item and have a definite life span. Road chemicals and dry, dusty conditions will take their toll on them no matter what you do. Undercoating will shorten their life as it doesn't allow the rubber to flex, creating stress points where the coating has adhered to the rubber compound.
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#7
03-04-2012, 09:41 AM
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Duct taped axles
You can do the old Duct tape axle trick.
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/157879-cv-click-duct-tape-trick-one-mans-struggle-cv-joints.html some further reading of axle boot survival technics. PeachParts Search Charlie
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there were three HP ratings on the OM616... 1) Not much power 2) Even less power 3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast. 80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works
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#8
03-04-2012, 01:01 PM
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I soaked some 25 yo boots with 303, and they split a month later. 303 is good stuff, and might help on new boots, but I would be careful.
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1982 300CD Petrol/Black Leather
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#9
03-04-2012, 05:08 PM
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I cleaned most of the crap off, and sprayed them with vinylex, wiping off the excess. They seem pretty supple- Hopefully they won't split anytime soon!
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Chief 1991 350SD
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