Hippo Red CV Boots?

[fxeditor]

Hi all,
I just noticed that one of my outer CV boots has beginning to tear. A quick google search led me to this video:




The Hippo Red boots seem almost too good to be real! Now I haven't researched to see if the sizes they have are compatible with my '87 coupe but I was wondering if anyone had any experience with replacing a CV boot that way?

Thanks in advance!
Michael

[jlex]

Did all 4 on my car last year the PITA way of removing the shafts, taking off the CV joint, etc. If those boots go bad, I'd certainly consider doing it the easy way next time as long as I felt I caught the tear early and the joint wasn't contaminated with dirt.

[4flyboy]

There's a recent thread on this, seems the replacement alternatives last a year or two unlike the originals 30 plus?

Love to know more.

[KTL]

I bet that glue they use on the split joint is "super glue" cyanocrylate glue. The stuff works fantastic on rubber.

Purposely split boots have been around for quite a while. I recall my friend replacing a boot on his '87 Chrysler LeBaron TURBO 4 door sedan (the K-car body style) in the mid-late 90s. He's a fair wrencher at best (and was much less talented back then) and tackling a CV boot was pretty bold for him. He went to the parts store and they offered him the split boot, which I as a mid-20 yr old dude back then hadn't yet seen. I said what the heck, why not. It'll certainly be better than the torn boot! Worked out great.

Kinda funny in the video they don't even bother to wipe off most of that old slimy grease. Plus putting the new grease in the boot is pointless. Grease doesn't reallyfind it's way from the boot into the joint. It typically works the other way around- grease migrates from the joint out into the boot.

Thanks for the reminder of the great LeBaron from the past. What a goofy car....

[Quicksilver]

The 70s porno music really added to it!!!

Once any dirt and moisture has had a chance to get past the bot you really would want to inspect the CV races. Plus you can regrease them correctly.
Plus if you have only moderate wear you can swap the axles to the opposite side as the races only really wear on the loaded side.