SHOCK BOOTS-OFF OR ON??

[SCEXPLORER]

I really can't decide to keep on the boots or take it off. What do u all think and why?

 

[BoatsRcool]

i dont use them. they are a ***** to put on, and either way water WILL get in eventually and this way it wont stay inside the boot.

 

[SCEXPLORER]

Originally posted by BoatsRcool
i dont use them. they are a ***** to put on, and either way water WILL get in eventually and this way it wont stay inside the boot.

A local 4x4 shop said that if you don't have the boot dirt can get inside the shock as the piston moves up and down.

 

[Trckmagik]

I dont use them on my trucks! I had them on my 92 for about a year, when I finally cut them off they were full of water! This is why I cant see using them! All that water had been in there just destroying alot faster than the dirt will. Take them off! It actually looks better to.

 

[BoatsRcool]

everybodyat the local 4x4 shop here DOES NOT use boots. and take a look in a 4x4 mag, you will see on most of the trucks in there not one runs boots

 

[rpenner54]

Originally posted by SCEXPLORER


A local 4x4 shop said that if you don't have the boot dirt can get inside the shock as the piston moves up and down.

I call bullshit. I have run them and they just hold dirt. Dirt can get in the boot therefore it can get in the shock, yeah right! No way!

 

[SCEXPLORER]

So far they are getting cut off. Where are all the boot users at? Lets hear your stuff.

 

[wabbit]

I use boots...

I have boots on my shocks. I think it best to preserve the piston rod. It's not so much the dirt, that is mostly cleared by the first wiper seal, but the potential for rocks, gravel, etc. to fly up and scar the piston rod.
The trick is to make sure you seal the boots well and locate a small drain hole at the bottom of the boot.

 

[SCEXPLORER]

Re: I use boots...

Originally posted by wabbit
I have boots on my shocks. I think it best to preserve the piston rod. It's not so much the dirt, that is mostly cleared by the first wiper seal, but the potential for rocks, gravel, etc. to fly up and scar the piston rod.
The trick is to make sure you seal the boots well and locate a small drain hole at the bottom of the boot.

Hmm thats true. Anyone got a rebuttal for that? I just went out and looked at the boot and saw two holes in the boot which look like it drains out the water.

 

[BoatsRcool]

hate to tell you but if you got rocks coming to hit the piston hard enough to break it, its gonna break wheather or not the boot is on

likei said look in those magazines at all the awesome rock crawlers and see if they run boots they dont.

 

[rpenner54]

The boots will collect dirt. Meaning fine dust that collets enough in there to turn to dirt. At least mine did. So your piston is not rubbing up against the dust all the time. Mine did have holes in them too. I think either way you have a risk. You risk leaving them on letting water, dust, dirt gather in there and sit. Or you take em off and risk a rock flying up at the right moment and smacking into one hard enough to nick it.

 

[Stephen S]

Originally posted by BoatsRcool
hate to tell you but if you got rocks coming to hit the piston hard enough to break it, its gonna break wheather or not the boot is on

I don't think he was meaning rocks to break the piston rod. Like wabbit, I would worry about small rocks getting flung around and striking the piston rod and dinging, scarring, or chipping it's chrome finish. If the scarred part of the rod rides through the seals in the top of the shock enough, those seals won't last long.

I installed a set of Skyjacker Nitro shocks on my best friend's Ranger when we lifted it and I did notice that there were some holes in the bottom of the boots to allow for water to escape.

I say run the boots. Personally, I think they look good on the shocks and the manufacturer supplied them for piston rod protection.

 

[SCEXPLORER]

Man, you guys are providing really good arguments. It's getting tough now and its even close on the polls. Keep them votes coming.

 

[Flounder]

I don't use them on my RS5000s due to a friend with a 95 Wrangler removing his to find that the trapped water and dirt caused premature wear on the rod (yes, his had drainage holes, but they can become clogged just as any drain can). They *look* good, but at least on my Explorer, would be impossible to see due to its stock stance.

 

[SCEXPLORER]

An amazing outcome. The amount of people that use boots have surpassed the people that do not.

 

[rpenner54]

Originally posted by AdamCKach
I don't use them on my RS5000s due to a friend with a 95 Wrangler removing his to find that the trapped water and dirt caused premature wear on the rod (yes, his had drainage holes, but they can become clogged just as any drain can). They *look* good, but at least on my Explorer, would be impossible to see due to its stock stance.

Thats what happened on mine! Dirt and other crap was caught up in there. I still have the ones in the rear on however. BTW the shock boots are not required. The shop that sold me my supercrap shocks told me not to run them. They are for looks only. He also said they hold water and other debries in them. The shock boots had to be bought seperate too. In fact a large amount of shocks have to boots seperate.

 

[mattadams]

mine are coming off this weekend.

 

[SCEXPLORER]

Originally posted by mattadams
mine are coming off this weekend.

I think with this you would have to weigh the likeliness(sp?) . Is it more likely to get water and crap trapped in the boot or a rock fly and dent the piston? What do u think? I say it's more likely to get water and crap stuck.

 

[leenjen]

here's my observation:

serious offroaders usually dont use the boots.
show trucks are more likely to have the boots on.

 

[rpenner54]

Well I just removed the rear ones. Man what a mess! Even with two drain holes they had at least 1/4-1/2" of silty dirt type stuff. Now you tell me why?!

I think lenjen said it. Rockcrawlers don't run em, show-en-shines do. Hmmm....