94V6Auto4WD
New member
I just recently found that my RF prop shaft boot is torn. Oddly, it just now started leaking gear oil-how I found the rip. Yet, I have not been off road in months. So, why now? I don't understand how this just started leaking. The boot is in very good condition-not dry rotted, not even abrased in any substantial way. The clamps have not shifted at all.
What I need, is some help in understanding how a boot would tear like this. Now, I realize that a stick, rock etc., will run into/though the boot and start a tear or tear completely through. Also, it has been more than 7 years since I have bogged to the diff, where I would have spun the front axles while stationary.
Yet, when one looks at the tear, at the very first inward fold-large/differential side, it is fairly straight. My thoughts are that an off road (or on road) rip would at least have an irregular section of the tear that is from the initial point of impact from a stick/rock/etc.
Unfortunately, I am not a very trusting soul when it comes to certain things. The tear looks to be far too straight and may even have what looks to be "sawing" marks that could've been done by a straight edge blade or razor knife.
The tear is even a little short of the apex of the first fold. Meaning that if it was an outside object, why didn't it find the top dead center of the fold?
The boot is in real good condition (106K mi). Would an extreme right turn tear a boot and tear it at this section?
What are the possible causes for this occuring in such a manner?
Although anything is possible, do/have you heard of people or mechanics slice/ing boots out of malice or in a need for business?
I'm thinking of finding an inner tube, cutting a tapered piece with some threaded hose clamps, and with some vulcanizing glue sealing the boot as hoc 'til I am in a better financial situation. This should work at keeping the dust/dirt out. Although it will probably pool gear oil. Any thoughts about this or a better idea?
Lastly, the joint tulip (big end of the prop shaft-away from wheel) near the diff has an amount of in and out play ~1/4-3/8". The leftside does not or much less. Why and does this have anything to do with the boot rip?
This is strange that this just happened. I did just start a job that I avg ~230 mi a day for 5 days M-F, but it is half surface streets and half highway. I suspect this is why I am only now seeing the release of gear oil out of the boot though.
A while back I got into it with a couple of ex-cons that were running around intimidating people in the apt complex I live in. One of 'em said they wanted to fight me over some bs, I said okay to him and his 2 friends. Smartly, they backed down because they knew I don't bluff. After court, fines and another mark on my record, I with all the others in the complex didn't have any more probs with these PsOS. Yet, I think, one of them had my T4R towwed due to my out of state plates. IOW, I wouldn't put it passed 'em to have cut my boot should this damage be unusual and it being a possible "dirty trick" that small minded people will do.
Thanks for any help you can provide.
P.S A lot of awesome rigs in the pix. Remember: Distilled Water with your Antifreeze in the Radiator/Cooling system, not just your battery, is a good thing. :cheers:
What I need, is some help in understanding how a boot would tear like this. Now, I realize that a stick, rock etc., will run into/though the boot and start a tear or tear completely through. Also, it has been more than 7 years since I have bogged to the diff, where I would have spun the front axles while stationary.
Yet, when one looks at the tear, at the very first inward fold-large/differential side, it is fairly straight. My thoughts are that an off road (or on road) rip would at least have an irregular section of the tear that is from the initial point of impact from a stick/rock/etc.
Unfortunately, I am not a very trusting soul when it comes to certain things. The tear looks to be far too straight and may even have what looks to be "sawing" marks that could've been done by a straight edge blade or razor knife.
The tear is even a little short of the apex of the first fold. Meaning that if it was an outside object, why didn't it find the top dead center of the fold?
The boot is in real good condition (106K mi). Would an extreme right turn tear a boot and tear it at this section?
What are the possible causes for this occuring in such a manner?
Although anything is possible, do/have you heard of people or mechanics slice/ing boots out of malice or in a need for business?
I'm thinking of finding an inner tube, cutting a tapered piece with some threaded hose clamps, and with some vulcanizing glue sealing the boot as hoc 'til I am in a better financial situation. This should work at keeping the dust/dirt out. Although it will probably pool gear oil. Any thoughts about this or a better idea?
Lastly, the joint tulip (big end of the prop shaft-away from wheel) near the diff has an amount of in and out play ~1/4-3/8". The leftside does not or much less. Why and does this have anything to do with the boot rip?
This is strange that this just happened. I did just start a job that I avg ~230 mi a day for 5 days M-F, but it is half surface streets and half highway. I suspect this is why I am only now seeing the release of gear oil out of the boot though.
A while back I got into it with a couple of ex-cons that were running around intimidating people in the apt complex I live in. One of 'em said they wanted to fight me over some bs, I said okay to him and his 2 friends. Smartly, they backed down because they knew I don't bluff. After court, fines and another mark on my record, I with all the others in the complex didn't have any more probs with these PsOS. Yet, I think, one of them had my T4R towwed due to my out of state plates. IOW, I wouldn't put it passed 'em to have cut my boot should this damage be unusual and it being a possible "dirty trick" that small minded people will do.
Thanks for any help you can provide.
P.S A lot of awesome rigs in the pix. Remember: Distilled Water with your Antifreeze in the Radiator/Cooling system, not just your battery, is a good thing. :cheers:
