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

[XC70Rider]

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.

+1000

The Oetiker clamps for the plastic boot is preset at one size so crimping them with my ear clamp pliers was easy. I couldn't slide the plastic boots after I firmly crimped them onto the shaft. I got both axles rebuilt but won't be throwing them back on until I get new ball joints delivered from FCP next Tuesday.

[cn90]

So,

The fear of Plastic Boot coming off the CV Joint is unfounded?
I keep seeing all these posts of Plastic boot coming off in VW, Audi forums...

[erikv11]

Maybe it's operator error?

[XC70Rider]

The oetiker clamps for the plastic boots are the thickest clamps I've ever crimped. They are much firmer than the oetiker clamps for the rubber boots. Being more solid you have to give them more torque when crimping them. After they stopped sliding I crimped them a notch further for safety.

These are the ear clamp pliers that did the job

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01I3 ... UTF8&psc=1

[erikv11]

The oetiker clamps for the plastic boots are the thickest clamps I've ever crimped. They are much firmer than the oetiker clamps for the rubber boots. Being more solid you have to give them more torque when crimping them. After they stopped sliding I crimped them a notch further for safety.

These are the ear clamp pliers that did the job

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01I3 ... UTF8&psc=1

Good info, further support for the notion that the problems noted are due to operator error.

[cn90]

UPDATE,

Just did the CV boot, as it turned out,I was wrong, the 2004 V70 came from the factory with Plastic boot for the outer part.

The GKN boot is exactly identical to the factory boot.

The Outer clamp is thick, I can see why people did clamp it enough (the cheap pliers at OReilly won't cut it).

Luckily I have the Home Depot cutter (the heavy duty version) that I filed the edge so it is dull. Even so, I have to lay the CV Joint on the ground so I can squeeze the clamp with all my strength!

It is good now.

I will update the crew later...