Ripped and torn CV Boots are very common in rally and off road situations. The same is true for ball joint boots, tie rod boots, steering rack boots, and so on. Any soft rubber exposed under the vehicle will fail, especially when exposed to the harsh abuse of rally and off road style driving. For this video, we will be looking at CV boots in particular, but the same process should be used for any damaged boots under your vehicle.
The purpose of these rubber boots is to keep grease in, and keep dirt and debris out. Whenever you notice a damaged boot, replace as soon as possible, but that may be impossible in remote areas and you may still have many miles to travel. In an emergency, it is highly advantageous to re-grease the CV and improvise a patch whenever possible. This will keep the CV lubricated and free of damaging dirt and debris, even if only for a little while.
The first step is to clean the damaged boot and surrounding area as much as possible to get the best view of the damage. This will also be necessary to get any tapes or glues to adhere tp the damaged boot.
Once the damages area is as clean as possible, try to get some grease back into the damaged boot however possible. Any clean, preferably high-temp grease will work well, but in a pinch, use whatever grease you can find. A grease gun works well, but use whatever is available to re-grease the joint. Clean the area again when complete if necessary.
The last step is to patch the damaged boot the best you can with whatever you have on hand. If you can get to a gas station or parts store, you will have plenty of options, and some of the best patch materials include: electrical tape, duct tape, any other flexible tape, plastic bags, zip ties, hose clamps, twine or string, and some mechanic’s wire or coat hanger. Necessity is the mother of invention, the idea here is to wrap the damaged boot with anything that will keep grease in the joint and act as a barrier to dirt and dust. Wrap, tape, and secure your patch the best you can, and check on it whenever possible.
When you get back to civilization, either clean and re-grease the part and install a new boot, or replace the part completely.
