Zip tie for cv boot

[jwakil]

Has anyone tried good old fashioned zip ties to secure the boot on pre 83’ cv boot flanges. I’m not finding the right size crimp clamp locally.

[MichaelSJackson]

It's not uncommon.

[hughc]

Zip ties vary in quality considerably, so use the best you can find. Stay away from cheap versions found at Dollar Stores. Those often don't have the metal locking tab but instead have a stiff locking plastic piece.

[Jeff Higgins]

Zip ties are all I have used for 20 years and well over 100,000 miles on my car. My two sons use them on their cars as well, with probably a combined 50,000 miles between them. Never a single failure of any kind on any of our cars. There is not a lot of stress on these.

I don't like the metal straps one little bit. Every CV boot failure I have ever seen was the direct result of the metal strap cutting the boot. Zip ties don't do that.

[yelcab1]

The little end is fine with zip tie. The big end, I have always used the metal bands instead.

[winders]

I disagree with the idea that there is no stress on the big end clamp. There is stress as the axle moves. Also, you don't get a tight enough seal with zip ties.

I would never use zip ties on the big end. Zip ties are fine on the little end. Get the right Oetiker clamp and use the right tool to tension the clamp and you will have no problems with the clamp tearing the boot.

[fanaudical]

I have tried good quality zip ties on my Audis and they don't last long.

I have had good luck sourcing the metal bands of the right size from Napa.

[porsche930dude]

Use the kind that folds over and you dont need a special tool. Iv used hose clamps on both ends if they fit in the hub. otherwise improvise with making a used clamp work or a universal fold over style

[Jeff Higgins]

I never said "no stress". I said "not a lot of stress".

Again, we have a combined 150,000+ miles (and that is being very conservative) on three cars over 20 years. Lots of track time, even some fire road driving in our Cascade range. Zip ties on both ends. No failures, no leaks, none have ever slipped off the big end, no breakages, no problems of any kind. We won't use anything else.

[jpnovak]

I have used zip ties for about the same 20 years. No issues with leaking, burping or splits.

I am not sure I would use on a FWD car where the boot sees considerable angle during steering input. But for a 911 rear where the shaft moves up and down with minimal lateral shift on jounce or lateral load they work well.

[Walt Fricke]

I've used zip ties for maybe 20 years also on both the big and little ends of my boots, with no problems. I may have lucked out, as I haven't paid much attention to zip tie quality, though I think the places I have purchased them from have not carried super cheap ones in the size needed. But they may have had plastic tabs - I didn't check. I wonder if only rather large and wide ties have the metal tabs these days?

You can avoid having air pressure created by CV in and out movement by putting a small plastic tube (think leftovers from a brake cleaner spray can, typically red) under the small end of the boot. I've never had grease come out of one of these. The small end hardly needs fastening anyway.

[safe]

I never use anything on the small side if its reasonably tight, no big gaps.

[Indescikov]

Use a low profile cable tie.

[Quickstep192]

I’d use the type of tie where the end pulls through parallel to the standing part. (I think that’s what Indescikov is referring to). They’re much harder to tension than the regular kind, but they don’t produce a gap like those who come through at a right angle.

Googling “Oetiker Clamps” should produce a bevy of vendors.

[jwakil]

Well, I went and bought the most heavy duty zip ties I could find. After I removed the axles I saw two of the boots had split in half, but the thin grocery store zip ties the previous shop used had held up fine in holding the ends. So now I don't feel I'm taking too much risk.

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by Quickstep192

I’d use the type of tie where the end pulls through parallel to the standing part. (I think that’s what Indescikov is referring to). They’re much harder to tension than the regular kind, but they don’t produce a gap like those who come through at a right angle.

Googling “Oetiker Clamps” should produce a bevy of vendors.

What sorts of problems have you experienced that you can attribute to this "gap" left by the "regular kind"?

[PeteKz]

You's be surprised at what I've used zip ties for! And most of them held up. I've used them on CV joint boots, ball joint boots, tie rod boots, Christmas tree lights, dog collars, etc.

[thetorch]

or just get the right kind of clamp: oetiker ear clamps, which Porsche have used on CV boots through the present day.

You should be able to find the size you need at Belmetric:

https://belmetric.com/search-result/?search_query=oetiker+clamp