'Boots' for the front suspension.

[Trouble at t'Mill]

Hello.

I've noticed that the 'concertina' boots covering my front suspension dampers are torn, exposing the shiny damper piston rods underneath - no doubt leaving them exposed will hasten their demise

Is it wishful thinking, or could replacing them (if replacements can be found...) be as simple as partially jacking up the front end, removing the single top nut which secures the damper top (from under the bonnet), pushing the damper piston back down into the shock and squeezing a replacement boot through the spring coils and over the damper???!!

Failing that, how much are new shocks going to cost me in a year's time...?

Thanks.

[Steve L]

When my Bongo went in for its test recently the examiner pointed out that the rubber boots on the bottom ball joints had split, but the ball joints were still ok. He suggested replacing the boots but these are difficult to source. After doing a search on the net I found a tip on one of the classic vehicle sites suggesting that split boots be repaired with self amalgamating tape. I got the tape and although it was a fiddly job managed to do it. I wonder if shock absorber boots could be repaired in the same way. Seems a shame to change perfectly good shockers for the sake of a bit of rubber.

[dom_e]

I have the same situation on all 4 corners. I noticed it when purchasing the vehicle, but decided it was okay anyway. I checked with out local garage (A&S in Caerphilly) who said it's a common issue and nothing to worry about! I just hope they're right.

I can't see how self am. tape would work on the shock boots - it relies on a tight wrap. I wonder if any other manf. boots would fit.

[Trouble at t'Mill]

Thanks Steve and Dom.

Interesting to hear it's a 'common' problem - that does help! I guess it's not a disaster, but it's bound to shorten the life of the dampers to some degree imo.

The self-amalgamating tape is a possibility - it I can get the two ends of the boot to slightly overlap I should be able to tape them. Coming to think of it, I have some wide 'duct' tape in the garage somewhere too! Thanks for the idea, Steve.

I guess anything I do will help delay the inevitable, but it looks like these shocks aren't the most expensive parts in the world in any case at around £100 each (I know, I know - but it could be worse...!)

Thanks, gents.

[mikeonb4c]

One of mine had a split and I fixed it using a bandage of cotton smeared all over with a gooey black mastic recommended to me by BigDaddyCain and called Sikaflex. Seems to be holding great 18 months later. One tube of this stuff has done all sorts of useful jobs from repairing a split bumper to re-sealing gutters. I managed to buy it direct from Sikaflex for a reasonable price.

I suspect DUCT tape will not last at all long in that environment, though I could be wrong.

[Trouble at t'Mill]

Cheers, Mike.

Yeah I remember Sikaflex from my days of kitchen fitting. Wonderful stuff!

I'm going to try with my H/D duct tape first and see how it goes.

[francophile1947]

It depends on how bad the split is, but superglue works on small ones.

[dom_e]

is this the stuff? http://www.theyachtshop.co.uk/items/pai ... detail.htm

I think mine have split all of the way around, so may be beyond reasonable repair, but it's worth a go I guess.

[mikeonb4c]

is this the stuff? http://www.theyachtshop.co.uk/items/pai ... detail.htm

I think mine have split all of the way around, so may be beyond reasonable repair, but it's worth a go I guess.

Pretty sure it is. If BigDaddyCain doesn't confirm, I'll try to check my tube tonight and update you.

Mike

[Trouble at t'Mill]

Well, I've just taped up the two separated parts of the front suspension boots. Quite easy to access with the road wheel off and the car jacked up to extend the springs.

Cleaned it down, and used duct tape. No idea how long it will last.

The interesting (positive) thing I found was that the boot is not attached at the bottom, only at the top. So, as the shock moves up and down, the boot doesn't so much 'concertina' as actually slide up and down over the lower section. This puts less strain on the actual boot, so I'm more hopeful it'll last fairly well.