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Shock boots; Use them or not? Why?

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Offline ebewley

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Shock boots; Use them or not? Why?
« on: October 21, 2003, 01:43:51 AM »
What's your experiences with shock boots? In a previous discussion that got off topic, this idea was brought up. :)  

It's my experience that around here most do not run shock boots. Our wheeling is muddy and damp. Shock boots tend to leave mud and goop on the shock shaft and seal leading to premature failure.

What's it like in your area?

-Eric
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Offline UberAsuna

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Re: Shock boots; Use them or not? Why?
« Reply #1 on: October 21, 2003, 01:59:34 AM »
Well in my case...  i didnt install them myself since the old bolts were VERY HARD TO REMOVE cause of rust we had to cut them off lol at my friend's garage.  Anyway he put the boots on because he said without them it would get very dirty ... so now im confused now lol  whats the best solution ? removing them or keeping them on ??
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Crabzuki

Re: Shock boots; Use them or not? Why?
« Reply #2 on: October 21, 2003, 02:16:33 AM »
It is one of my many pet peeves (shock boots) I use them and what I personally do, is use a pair of hose clamps painted to match the boots and I attach them securely to the shock ends. The manufacturer recommends the use of shock boots to keep silt and fine particles of dirt (the composition of most dirts) out of the compression chamber, without them you cause premature wear on the shock through the compression chamber. Abet the flimsy way they come from the manufacturer is one thing but my way makes for a more secure way for them to stay seated. After a hard run of mudding all it takes is that you hose down the wheel well area and with a wet towel clean the backside of the boots to insure a longer life of not cracking up on you. Do not use anything else on them while cleaning other than mild soap as other cleaning agents may do more harm to the plastic then good.   :)
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Offline tonka-toy

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Re: Shock boots; Use them or not? Why?
« Reply #3 on: October 21, 2003, 03:25:32 AM »
i run them on the front and rear.
having lost a set of rears due to mud on the seals i thought it wise
we tend to have very deep mud holes that eat your shocks almost as quickly as it eats your rear brake shoes.
at present i get through a set of rear shoes almost every trip out...#

" welcome to the world of lifted vitaras " ... need to get the rear disc brake conversion done asap
simon (tonka-toy) :o
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Offline mrfuelish

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Re: Shock boots; Use them or not? Why?
« Reply #4 on: October 21, 2003, 11:43:37 AM »
I Do Not use them unless it is for racing purposes only so the guy in front of you (unless your real fast all of the time)does not throw rocks and ding the shafts up where it will blow a shock fast, as far as dust or moisture goes the boots are not sealed unless you run a tube off of them to a air cleaner and seal up the air holes on them other wise if they were sealed they would blow up like a balloon so in stock ever time your shock goes up and down it brings in dirt or moisture and most of the time it stays in there rusting the shaft(mud) so i say give them boots the boot and if you know your going to go play in the mud spray the under carage with pam (yes the non stick stuff you use for cooking) and your shocks ect befor you go play!
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jdraper

Re: Shock boots; Use them or not? Why?
« Reply #5 on: October 21, 2003, 12:02:16 PM »
I don't use them either because they tend to hold more dirt in than they keep out, which kills the shocks faster.  Most boots have drain holes in them that are supposed to let the dirt/water out when you submerge them but usually they get clogged and then you end up taking the boots off to clean them out.   Most of the people I wheel with don't have them on for the same reason.
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Offline Yankee Tim

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Re: Shock boots; Use them or not? Why?
« Reply #6 on: October 22, 2003, 09:42:18 AM »
Here's my 2 cents.

I've run shocks with and without boots.  It really depends on the driving you do and where, and the care you take with your rig.

In rust belt states, you really want them.  It's the same reason car shocks have a shield.

The piston rods are chrome plated, not solid chrome.  When a rock, pebble or similar piece of debris is kicked up off the road and hits the shaft, it damages the chrome plating.  This exposes the steel shaft beneath to road salt and water.  Rust soon follows.  This has happened to several brands of shocks that I've used.

When I had the 5" combo on my Sammy, I used the boots and even with NY winters, no rust.  My DTs on the current suspension are pitted and rusty (no boots).

On my GV, I run boots. No rust.

Now for Utah rock crawlers, they are a waste of plastic IMHO.  Bad for mudders as they hold the mud in.

If you wash you rig after you wheel, it's no biggy.

« Last Edit: October 22, 2003, 09:45:19 AM by Yankee_Tim »
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Yankee Tim
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Offline UberAsuna

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Re: Shock boots; Use them or not? Why?
« Reply #7 on: October 22, 2003, 10:46:35 AM »
hehe thx for the info about the rust ... now i know not to take them off because i live in quebec canada and we get planty of freakin snow here lol
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Offline wildgoody

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Re: Shock boots; Use them or not? Why?
« Reply #8 on: October 22, 2003, 11:44:30 AM »
No Boots,!!!

If you wheel hard, you put the struts
and shocks through full range of
movement, which oils and wipes dirt off
the shafts, no problem.
;)
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Offline Natebert

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Re: Shock boots; Use them or not? Why?
« Reply #9 on: October 23, 2003, 04:04:30 PM »
Boots or no boots, we have damaged enough shocks and struts and have had them replaced in such a timely matter, that the 'eventual' wear and tear that a boot or lack of boot could cause, hasn't a chance to happen yet.

Sorry, not much help here.

~Nate

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