SHOCK BOOTS-OFF OR ON??

[Jefe]

I use my shock boots on my RS 5000's, but i did not wire tie them to the shock. They really just 'sit' on the shock and whenever I'm looking around under my truck I'll usually pull it up and tap it to get any dust out. I like the looks of them, which is why I put them on in the first place.

 

[wabbit]

dirt's not so much the problem...

Dirt's not so much the problem, dings and nicks on the piston rod is what will kill your shocks in a hurry.
I'd say if you pulled your shock boots and they were loaded with dirt or water, they must not have been sealed very well when they were installed. A tiny bit of dirt may enter through the drain hole, but that should be of no concern. The first wiper seal will take care of it.
It's the dents and dings on the piston rod that will waste your shocks. Even tiny ones. Small gravel and pebbles can damage the rod surface.
I suppose the super mod rock crawlers that are trailered to the trails wouldn't be subjected to the spray of rocks thrown up under the rig at 40 mph on a gravel road. That's where shock boots do their job, not creeping over an obstacle.
So maybe if I WANNABE like the super mod rock crawlers and go bootless, pretending like I don't tear a** down a gravel road from time to time, that's cool. It is optional...

 

[rpenner54]

Re: dirt's not so much the problem...

Originally posted by wabbit
Dirt's not so much the problem, dings and nicks on the piston rod is what will kill your shocks in a hurry.
I'd say if you pulled your shock boots and they were loaded with dirt or water, they must not have been sealed very well when they were installed. A tiny bit of dirt may enter through the drain hole, but that should be of no concern. The first wiper seal will take care of it.
It's the dents and dings on the piston rod that will waste your shocks. Even tiny ones. Small gravel and pebbles can damage the rod surface.
I suppose the super mod rock crawlers that are trailered to the trails wouldn't be subjected to the spray of rocks thrown up under the rig at 40 mph on a gravel road. That's where shock boots do their job, not creeping over an obstacle.
So maybe if I WANNABE like the super mod rock crawlers and go bootless, pretending like I don't tear a** down a gravel road from time to time, that's cool. It is optional...

My rancho's were sealed from the factory. So I don't know where to place that blame. Heck they were sealed really well too but all that crap still got in there. You have a good point but I am just going to run without the boots. I will see what happens.

 

[mattadams]

FYI, when I removed my shock boots, they were also full of crap and mud. They had also been factory sealed and were still held on by the red rancho zip ties even . I kind of like the ability to get rid of the crap when I need to, so I'm going to keep running the fronts without boots. The rears I've left on, but may remove them as some point too.

 

[Rick]

I don't run them. I have seen water and silt collect in them and rust the heck out of the shock bodies.

 

[Frisckey1]

I don't know a whole lot about this stuff....

But my instinct says if the manufacturer recommended them to be installed, they probably should be. If the manufacturer thought it was an option (which they could charge more for the boots separately), don't you think they would take the opportunity to sell them to you like that? Besides, how often are you buried in mud or water? If its a lot, I might be inclined to say take them off. It all seems to be contingent of your personal habits/uses. If you are worried about damage or length of life, don't go fourwheelin Just my opinion

 

[Rick]

I would say it has more to do with the climate you live it rather than whether or not you go wheelin' offroad. If you live in an area where it rains a lot they will collect water, if you live in an area that uses salt on the roads they will collect corrosive salt water.

Stock shocks don't use boots and they last upwards of 30,000 miles.

 

[Maniak]

We use them on our rs9000's.. We drive on a dirt road every day.. (I think it is 6-8 miles each day).. at speeds from 30mph to 65mph (depending where on the dirt road I am.. and if there is any other traffic and all kinds of other factors..

I'm more worried about rocks/pebbles hitting the shock tubes than anything else.. I'm under the truck enough to notice if anything is trapped in there.. and on top of that I have enough rear flex to keep pulling the bottom of the boot off the shock.. nothing is ever in there.. As for the front. I check the tire pressure every weekend and I pick up the bottom of the boot to make sure nothing is in there.. so far I haven't noticed anything coming out..

~Mark

 

[2001ExpSport]

Think of the possiblity of a small rock or stone hitting a rod 1/2 inch thick under your truck which is usually shielded by the frame or suspension hard enough to dent it. It is very small. Now think of the possibility of dirt collecting in the boot and rusting the crap out of the rod and body. The boot will trap moisture which we all know is BAD for metal.

I don't use the boots because it's just bad for the shock.

 

[Maniak]

For us, the possiblility of rocks hitting the shock tube is actually pretty high.. this dirt road isn't smooth dirt.. it is actually rocks and hard packed dirt.. and it isn't a straig line.. I find dirt/rocks stick in the "grooves" of the shock boot which tells me I must be getting a lot of dirt/rocks up there.. I even get rocks to hit the winshield (kicked up from my own tires).. it is amazing how rocks move..

I do agree that is really depends what you drive on and where you drive.. If we lived in the east where we had rain more than a few times a year I would most likely not use them as there would be a higher chance of getting stuff in it..

~Mark

 

[01EB5.0]

If you have Edelbrocks as I do, you should use the boots. SInce the edelbrocks are mounted upside down compared to the other manufactures, water and dirt do not get in there. the piston rod comes out the bottom and has drainage holes on the metal plate the boots connects to. i have had mine in use for 1.5 years and they are still fine with no dirt or water in the boots

 

[wolfnutts]

ill have to vote no on shock boot . im pretty much an onroad trk air shocks in the rear an fronts are stocks with a metal coverany how
so many things to consider to make a choice but just replace them every two yrs depending milage ect. ect. shocks are like spark plugs just change them
an one other thought for you ive run heavy eqwip for yrs an how many boots have i seen on the hydro pistons ?? zero an dont you thk that big dozer or loader piston see's alot of dirt an dust !!
all shocks or hydro pistons have a seal to wipe away the dirt on each cycle . stocker or high end rebuildable type

 

[storlied]

You sir, have a very big point. (That sounded perverted.. Hm.. Maybe I'm just perverted...) Anyways.. yeah, you have a point with the construction vehicles.

 

[cybergasm]

I have been thinking about ditching mine as well since they haven't stay in place since I put my new pro-comps on anyways. And now they getting all torned up from flopping around in there.

 

[unclemeat]

It seems to my that my Bilstein shocks 5100s, have a plastic guard around them that does not seal on the bottom but cover the rod for protection from flying objects.

 

[Willard]

much like the metal shield that comes on monroe's

 

[Paraphoe]

I use 'em because they look pretty. See reg.

 

[Turdle]

Resurrection time

 

[gmanpaint]

No boots anymore. I use them on my floor jack handle instead. They protect whatever I am working on at the time from the handle coming up and smacking against the vehicle. I also know some people that use them for a shifter boot

I started noticing a lot of rusted shock body's from water collecting in the boots around here, and removed mine. I liked how they looked, but if they are going to prematurely kill my shocks, then why bother with them?

 

[GRNMACHINE]

I use 'em because they look pretty. See reg.

Same Here.