OEM CV boot kit and aftermarket axles

[alia176]

Fellas,

I'm in the middle of R/R the boots on the front axles and wasn't sure if one of the axles I have is the original one. My GF has a pristine '08 with 96k miles and she has the original axles so I compared my set with her set. Looks like the passenger axle is aftermarket so I just replaced the whole axle with one from autozone. The driver side looks very similar to hers, the key things that stand out are the flanges at either end. Seems that the oem shafts have flanges and the aftermarket don't. The flanges do a great job of keeping crud out of the seals. Is this a correct assumption? Check out the first picture of the axle flange.

In any case, the OEM boots are made differently than the current set that are beginning to tear. The new OEM boots have a harder type of rubber and the old boots that I'm about to remove have soft, very pliant type of rubber.

One thing I noticed is that the new OEM boots fit sort of loosely around the actual shaft. Meaning, the smaller end of both boots are not as snug as the ones that came off. I was able to get one of the smaller clamps very snug due to the "squeeze" style of clamp. However, the other small clamp is of a different style, as shown below, and is not as tight. Can someone please confirm if I installed it correctly or do I need to go another notch?

The last pic is of the old boot and clamp for reference.

Thank you.

 

[alia176]

Boy, don't everyone speak all at once :jk:

I abandoned the OEM small boot clamp, and reused the clamp that I removed from the old boot. These clamps are easier to tighten with infinite adjustment but you'll need one of them cv boot clamp tool thingy which I have.

 

[BackOff]

If you were just asking about the clamps...they do look funky.
Seems like some members use adj. bandclamps that are slightly rounded on the edges so they don't cut the boot...forget the part, some McMaster something.

Here is an unmolested V6.

 

[having fun]

Mcmaster-Carr. 5574K24 large ones DB1266704C32 small ones.

I don't even waste my time with OEM clamps. They tend to loosen up and leak when a lift is put on. Even when I bought new OEM axles, I popped of the bands and replace with these.

 

[alia176]

Mcmaster-Carr. 5574K24 large ones DB1266704C32 small ones.

I don't even waste my time with OEM clamps. They tend to loosen up and leak when a lift is put on. Even when I bought new OEM axles, I popped of the bands and replace with these.

Great info, thanks!