BALL JOINT RUBBER BOOT SMALL TEAR

[ERIC FAIRCLO]

I noticed after i installed the new ball joints one of them had a tear that a little bit of grease has come out when filling it up. Is this a concearn? Should i put some rubber cement on it or leave it? I don't feel like taking it apart again. Thanks in advance. Eric

[Gary S.]

Re: BALL JOINT RUBBER BOOT SMALL TEAR

Eric, if you actually have a tear in the boot, I don't think that there is any product that will allow you to successfully repair the hole. The problem with the tear is that it will allow dirt and water into the ball joint, and, as you are aware, will greatly reduce the life of that joint.

If you must repair the hole, I would suggest trying one of the kits for installing temporary boots on CV joints. These are normally emergency only repairs to CV joints but perhaps their glue and repair techniques MAY allow you to get some additional life out of your ball joint.
Gary

[ERIC FAIRCLO]

Re: BALL JOINT RUBBER BOOT SMALL TEAR

I should also say that the tear is about 1mm small and i just drive the car about 200 miles a year on sunny days (never in the rain) Thanks Eric

[Mark Ring]

Re: BALL JOINT RUBBER BOOT SMALL TEAR

Eric, you can fix it now, or fix it later when it is no longer serviceable. Obviously, that could be a long time away for you. If you do not decide to fix it now, I would be sure to re-grease it a bit more often than you might otherwise and watch it for wear. You might try squeezing out the grease, cleaning it off with a solvent wet rag and apply a self-vulanizing bicycle inner-tube patch. The brand "Tip-Top" comes to mind but who knows. A serious bike shop will have better kits than the typical automotive style Walmart crap. What do you have to loose?

-Mark.

[Joe L.]

Re: BALL JOINT RUBBER BOOT SMALL TEAR

Eric----

Ball joint grease boots ofter are equipped with a little "relief flapper" of about the size you mentioned. I don't know why they think that these are necessary, but I've observed them on some ball joint grease boots. That's probably what you're seeing. If you look closely, you'll likely find one on the other joints, as well.