GKN Loebro Axle

[machete]

Bought axle last year, use it one time only and the outer boot torn apart. Our host asked for a return shipping quote which I quickly provided, so far no warranty replacement, no refund or return label.

[cabmandone]

YIKES! I was about to pull the trigger on a set of those! I'm replacing a set of original axles with a torn boot rather than taking them apart and replacing the boot. I might have to reconsider.

[3rd_gear_Ted]

GKN comes with only 3 rubber folds on the boots.
Other aftermarket boot kits (Empi) have 4 folds or more on the boot

[MrBonus]

Oof. I've got a set of those waiting to install.

[Marc Bixen]

Is this a track dog, or a street car? Standard C.V. grease overheats and causes failures on long duration track sessions. Additionally a piece of road debris may have damaged it. GKN/Lobro is factory OE. We've replaced hundreds if not more, and have never had a part failure. Again, there's always a chance of a defective clamp or something, that's why there are warranties. All you other guys, don't worry. Bolt them in with confidence!

[machete]

Bixen This is a street car and it happened on a highway, 1 use only, went to a Sunday drive with a group of friends and the next day it was like that. The other axle boots are about 5 years old with no issues

[Marc Bixen]

Originally Posted by machete

Bixen This is a street car and it happened on a highway, 1 use only, went to a Sunday drive with a group of friends and the next day it was like that. The other axle boots are about 5 years old with no issues

Please refer to me as Marc, or Mr. Bixen. We don't know each other. so your being rude.
Again, there are warranties, THERE IS road debris everywhere. Or possibly it was damaged during installation!

[machete]

Mr Marc Bixen, I called you by your last name because from where I come from calling a person by his/her last name is a show of respect. But if you think I was been rude, my apologies then. This was not caused by road debris or damaged during the installation. Like you said, we don't know each other, I know what I'm doing and this is not the first time I do this kind of service. If you look closely at the photo, the boot its missing the band which was installed at the factory. I bought the COMPLETE axle. The boot should not torn apart with just one use, so probably it was badly assembled by the manufacturer

[cabmandone]

Do the boots feel unusually stiff?

[OSC911]

Originally Posted by Marc Bixen

Please refer to me as Marc, or Mr. Bixen. We don't know each other. so your being rude.
Again, there are warranties, THERE IS road debris everywhere. Or possibly it was damaged during installation!

You don't sound like a very friendly guy.

[Noah930]

That's weird. I replaced my CV joints and used these boots from our host about 13 years and maybe 40K miles ago on my car (and I have no idea what I'm doing), and they've held up perfectly fine. Maybe give Pelican a call and gently prod them to see if they've come to a conclusion about sending you a refund or replacement part?

[spyerx]

Originally Posted by Marc Bixen

Please refer to me as Marc, or Mr. Bixen. We don't know each other. so your being rude.

Wow seriously? You live in LA and you're not familiar with latin culture / customs?


to the OP, i've had a newer boot fail on GKN axles... it sucks, makes a mess, but, gives an opportunity to put better grease in there.

[Eagledriver]

If the clamp was missing that could be why the boot failed. It doesn’t look like a quality problem. Either the clamp was never there or broke, possibly due to debris.

-Andy

[cabmandone]

I pulled the trigger on a set. It'll be interesting to see if the pic of the item is the same as the item I receive. Notice 4 ribs on the boots rather than the 3 ribs on the boots in the OP's pic. I'll post a pic of the actual item once it arrives.

Here's a pic of the item ordered

[pete3799]

I just put a set of them on my car last year but don't remember if they're 3 or 4 rib.
Checked the torque on them Sat. boots are all good.

[thetorch]

Just bought and installed 2 GKN axles. 3 rib. Boots are fine and properly sealed so far.

[cabmandone]

FWIW, mine came in today. Exactly as pictured with 4 ribs on the boots.

[rothaus]

I installed them 2 years ago, and they also have 4 ribs.

[cabmandone]

First... ^^^^ nice heater hose!
The weird thing about my set is, there is no clamp on the shaft side of the CV boot