2004 V70, S60 GKN OUTER CV boot is now Plastic!

[jimmy57]

GKN brand come with good Oetiker clamps that should be the one size style, not the pick your size variety. Plastic boots are size specific whereas the rubber ones usually are good for a range so they will have the multi-size clamps. I have old cheap horse hoof nippers I use to clench them and for tight spots I have the purpose made pliers. The purpose made ones are nothing more than end cutters with dull jaws. I'm sure Harbor Freight has some that are cut out for doing the job.

[cn90]

Thanks jimmy,

Since I am sending this car far away to my kid in college, my concern is the plastic boot integrity, from reading different forums, it seems like the large end of the plastic boot may come off under extreme condition (full lock R or L).

So my question is when you crimp the Oetiker clamp, is there a difference in the procedure for rubber vs plastic?

I have done a lot of rubber boots and I clamp until I cannot rotate the rubber boot, i.e., tight but not enough to cause damage to the rubber.

The plastic boot...I am still researching the proper force to clamp it...Please advise re plastic...

[jimmy57]

I crimp the plastic ones as tight as I can get them with the end cutters. If I'm using the long handled tools I have I am more careful as those can pull the tabs over on the clamp where the band anchors. The same test of no rotation applies.

[chris11211]

Here's a pic of my GKN 303420 (yes it's plastic) after about a thousand miles. everything's fine; though my mechanic who "swears by the blue box" ain't putting any guarantee for it, especially with the belief that rubber is superior. I think GKN would be the last company to sell you cheap plastic, let alone "thermal-plastic". I'd say you'll be fine.

[cn90]

Thanks for the photo.

Since I am sending the car far away for my kid in college (Durham NC area), about 12 miles from me...

My concern is not the longevity (how long it lasts).
My concern is the plastic boot coming off (from reading VW, Audi forums).
I will inspect the existing OUTER boot, if OK at 110K, and I may as well keep it for now.
Then when the time comes, use the plastic boot.

Another issue is mechanic labor is very expensive these days ($120/h+).

PS: I have read the pros and cons of rubber vs plastic and understands why GKN switched to plastic. The funny part is that: they claimed plastic has superior heat tolerance and yet they switched to plastic on the outer (where there is little heat) and kept the rubber for the inside (next to the engine). I also understand jimmy57's point of plastic being superior w.r.t. to road debris puncture, but I am a "rubber guy" LOL...

[chris11211]

Mine failed at 157K and I was lucky to catch it so soon with state inspection, and that it was breaking where the smaller end was. Just check it once a month with the tire pressure. I just stick my phone past the tires and take a pic, flash and all.

[jimmy57]

The inner joint only goes through up and down a few degrees. The outer must tolerate up/down and left/right and do it at the same time so the more robust piece was needed there. The reason that inners are so often trunnions and the outer are always knuckle and ball. There are many models (not Volvo) made in the last few years with rubber inner and plastic outer boots. when the inner is a trunnion and not a knuckle and ball joint the plastic is harder to make to seal a trunnion version. Trunnions are used when there is a need for more telescoping than knuckle and ball CVJs allow.

[FCPEURO]

Hey guys, for what it's worth I find that a lot of the manufacturers are switching to plastic for reliability. Especially over time, the rubber boots will easily degrade and tear over time while the plastic holds up much better.

Jason@FCP Euro

[cn90]

Just for laugh...re GKN 305147 for 2005 XC90 2.5T...

- I contacted eeuroparts, they say GKN 305147 is rubber.
- I contacted another vendor, they say GKN 305147 is plastic.

I don't know who to believe any longer ha!

[erikv11]

...
I will inspect the existing OUTER boot, if OK at 110K, and I may as well keep it for now.
Then when the time comes, use the plastic boot.
...

Good plan. No need to touch an undamaged CV boot with such low time/mileage combo.