CV Boot Maintenance - any thoughts?

[MC©]

Since the X5 has 8 expensive CV boots that can possibly tear I decided to spray all the rubber boots with lube approx 3 yrs ago. No scientific data to support my findings but the boots look like there holding up well and dont apear worn. It takes less then 2 minutes to get 6 out of 8 boots. Just cut the wheel all the way to the left and right and spray. No jacking/crawling needed. The last two boots are in the rear in the center of the truck and require you to get underneath. Since the rear do not stretch from turing - there's much less incidents of tears.

As for the lube, I'm not a big fan of WD40 or silicone. Instead I use CRC 656 or Seadoo Lube (leftover from my jetskis). Boeing makes a good spray called T-9 as well. I typically spray all the rubber parts before the winter and after an oil change.

You be the judge, 2002 X5 with 20's:





After a bath and enjoying the sun

[Ecko]

Looks good MC, but really though the boot itself isn't the expensive part. Expensive is when it's torn and dirt and sand get's into your ball bearings which eats them up. If you have to replace that, then yeah expensive it is.

[KCX5]

Here's my drivers front CV Boot w/ 55k miles and found this while underneath inspecting the car/suv/er sav. No lube or anything, though perhaps I should have used it. How many miles on your seadoo'd X5?

[Aimster]

Hmm.. I shoudl check my boots. Im close to 95k

[MC©]

CV boots are cheap but the labor to replace them is high. Most places will change the axel instead of just the boot. If your lucky enough to catch the tear before the grease leaks out and the dirt gets in then you could replace just the boot. Judging by the DIY write-up its not a simple job nor cheap.

Whether this is luck or not - I'll continue spraying and keep my fingers crossed.

[YIPPAUL]

Just found your post. Maybe not so great. I too, a fellow Long Islander, went down to Sea Doo to get the lube after reading your post. Shop keepers said that that lube, or any kind of the same family of lubes, will undoubtedly EXPAND any rubber it touches. It's soul purpose is to work on metal. With the rubber expanding and contracting it could shorten the life of the boot??? It looks good, but maybe not the best for the boot.