Axle shaft /Don

[no fixed address]

Don
I replaced the 'boot' in a campground in NH this summer and
secured it with a 'pinch' clamp 'pinched' with a homemade 'pincher'.
Since then I have put over 7000 miles on it.
However, to do it right you must remove the axle from the vehicle
to pack and clamp. I haven't been following this thread for long so
I'm not sure how far you've driven on the "new" boot. But, it it was
far, it's stretched and will never clamp tight.......spring for a new
one. Also, if it's the right shaft, no problem...if the left, the GMC
God's are annoyed at you

Good luck
Mikeb

In a message dated 1/25/00 8:24:33 AM Central Standard Time,

>

Patrick, I had new boots put on in Texas on my way to Calif. and he used the
pinch type bands. It slung out a double handful of grease. Can the boots be
repacked without taking anything apart? Then I can replace the bands with
the "wind-up" band clamps.......Thanks.....Don R (big dummy) 76PB

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Soon to be 'back on the road'
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[no fixed address]

Don
I had a bad boot on the right side that had been throwing out
grease. I'd stuff in grease, wipe off excess, and clamp . This
process was repeated several times using both kinds of clamp,
wire and whatever I could find. If nails had been an option, I'd have
tried them. Sometimes I took it to the pros (?) and sometimes I
did it myself. I just assumed it needed some and squished in a 1/2
cup each time I did it.
One old guy suggested it was a boot problem. In desperation and
with a day on my hands, I removed axle, cleaned, put on new
boot,repacked, and re-installed. Tight !! My theory is the lip of the
boot was stretched and warn from movement around the lip, to the
point where the ridge in the underside of the big boot end couldn't
grip....although it felt like there was a lip on the old boot at the time.
If you do your own work, try stuffing some grease in and re sealing
with a good clamp.
If someone else does it, two hours will have both axles out re-
booted (sounds like computer talk), packed and reinstalled. Switch
axles while you're at it.... right to left and left to right....give the
wear spots a break in life Cost: 2hrs +2 boots = guaranteed fix.
Translated 2x $40 + 2x$20 =$120 or less.......less than a 10
minute shopping trip at the local supermarket

My thoughts.....
Mike

In a message dated 1/25/00 6:31:50 PM Central Standard Time, gmcmail
writes:

>
Mike, I've driven about 5000 miles on these boots since new. I don't
understand how they could be stretched. I'm also wondering how to tell if
they need repacking. Both sides were loosing grease but seems to have
stopped now........Don R

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gmcmail will no longer exist after Jan.28th/00
the ONLY address will be Homebase
Soon to be 'back on the road'
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[blank]

Mike,

I understand from speaking with several "experts"(defined as someone that
actually gets paid for working on these things) that, unless both the boot
"lip" and the CV "groove" are perfectly clean(free of grease) that the boot
will not seat properly(especially true, I've been told, of the
"Superboots"). IIRC, this is also in the maintenance manual. This is
another good reason not to try this on the coach as it's tough enough to
keep those surfaces clean on the workbench. Just a wild guess, but it might
be possible that some of this grease gets trapped between the boot and CV
housing while you tighten the band. Later this grease works its way out and
the result is a loose clamp.

BTW, on my Superboots, I wiped these surfaces down fanatically when
installing them, but still got a little "squeeze-out" of grease when the
clamp tightened down.

Patrick

>
> Don
> I had a bad boot on the right side that had been throwing out
> grease. I'd stuff in grease, wipe off excess, and clamp . This
> process was repeated several times using both kinds of clamp,
> wire and whatever I could find. If nails had been an option,
> I'd have
> tried them. Sometimes I took it to the pros (?) and sometimes I
> did it myself. I just assumed it needed some and squished in a 1/2
> cup each time I did it.
> One old guy suggested it was a boot problem. In desperation and
> with a day on my hands, I removed axle, cleaned, put on new
> boot,repacked, and re-installed. Tight !! My theory is the
> lip of the
> boot was stretched and warn from movement around the lip, to the
> point where the ridge in the underside of the big boot end couldn't
> grip....although it felt like there was a lip on the old boot
> at the time.
> If you do your own work, try stuffing some grease in and re sealing
> with a good clamp.
> If someone else does it, two hours will have both axles out re-
> booted (sounds like computer talk), packed and reinstalled. Switch
> axles while you're at it.... right to left and left to
> right....give the
> wear spots a break in life Cost: 2hrs +2 boots = guaranteed fix.
> Translated 2x $40 + 2x$20 =$120 or less.......less than a 10
> minute shopping trip at the local supermarket
>
> My thoughts.....
> Mike
>
>
>
> In a message dated 1/25/00 6:31:50 PM Central Standard Time,
> gmcmail

>
> for a new
> one. Also, if it's the right shaft, no problem...if the
> left, the GMC
> God's are annoyed at you
>
> >>
> Mike, I've driven about 5000 miles on these boots since new. I don't
> understand how they could be stretched. I'm also wondering
> how to tell if
> they need repacking. Both sides were loosing grease but
> seems to have
> stopped now........Don R
>
> XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
> gmcmail will no longer exist after Jan.28th/00
> the ONLY address will be Homebase
> Soon to be 'back on the road'
> XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
>

 

[no fixed address]

Patrick
I agree with everything you've just said.

>Hey, I'm a guy, that's the place
where I look to see how I did.... AFTER... I've finished a job. I
wonder if I should re-arrange some things in my life?

Mikeb

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
gmcmail will no longer exist after Jan.28th/00
the ONLY address will be Homebase
Soon to be 'back on the road'
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX