Drivetrain
CV Boots & Steering Rack GaitersCV boots and steering rack gaiters are not the most glamorous (or expensive) components to be found on your everyday vehicle. However, failure to replace these innocuous items in time when they are worn could potentially land you or your customer with a very costly repair bill. The CV (Constant Velocity) boot is the flexible casing that you find covering the CV joints on a vehicle’s driveshaft. It protects the CV joint from premature wear by keeping out unwanted contaminants such as stones, water and other road dirt, whilst maintaining mechanical integrity by keeping lubrication in. Should a CV boot become worn or damaged, not only can the lubricant escape, leaving the CV joint liable to dry out and fail, but contaminants can also get inside the joint and mix with any remaining lubricant to create an extremely efficient grinding paste. This can lead to premature joint failure. A damaged CV joint will affect the safety critical steering and suspension elements on a vehicle, making this humble and inexpensive component a ‘must check’ item during a regular service. It is also worth noting that a split outer CV boot constitutes an MOT failure.
A steering rack gaiter performs a similar job to the CV boot, protecting the axial joint from the elements as it moves in and out continuously whenever the steering wheel is turned. Historically, First Line CV boots and steering rack gaiters have been made from a rubber (nitrile / neoprene) derived compound with the elastic material characteristics required to meet the demands of a CV joint / steering rack and its wide range of movement. On average, an original equipment specification rubber compound boot or gaiter will last for a minimum of three years (without damage) before a replacement is required. Since the mid 1990’s, many vehicle manufacturers have been making the transition to a new compound called ‘thermoplastic’ which is lighter, stiffer and harder wearing. On average, a First Line original equipment specification thermoplastic boot or gaiter should last for ten years. However, this timescale can be significantly reduced due to excessive exposure to physical impact from loose road material such as gravel, glass and accident debris which can damage this stiffer (and hence more brittle) material. From an environmental perspective the thermoplastic material is biodegradable, unlike the traditional rubber compounds. Typically the UK aftermarket is always on the lookout for cheaper alternative products. Some suppliers may offer a lower cost product, but this is usually at the expense of reducing the amount of material used (creating a thinner walled product) or by supplying a lower grade material which looks physically attractive but is technically below par for the job in hand. First Line CV boots and steering rack gaiters are manufactured to original equipment specifications and only the highest quality materials are used in their production. Every component is supplied complete with OE specification stainless steel clamps whilst CV boot kits also include a 50g sachet of high grade molybdenum disulphide grease as recommended by all vehicle manufacturers. First Line recommends that you should check the CV boots and steering rack gaiters every 5-10,000 miles for excessive wear or deterioration. Any part should be replaced at the first sign of material fatigue. |
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