Extending the life of CV Joints
 

Greetings, All!

This is something I've been doing since the first time I changed a set of CV joint boots.

Whenever I'm under a car with CV joints (for an oil change or whatever), I clean the boots (wipe the crud off gently with a soft shop towel) and spray the boots with Armor All. It keeps the boots from drying out and becoming brittle and cracking. Ordinarily, (or at least in my experience) CV joints don't die until the boots crack and the grease escapes and dirt enters. Keep the boots from cracking, and the joints continue to live.

Since I've started doing that, I've had CV boots--and their respective joints--to live for nearly 200,000 miles. They were still working perfectly when I traded the vehicles off at 177,000 and 182,000 miles respectively. Otherwise, I've replaced axle assemblies at 90k to 140k on friends' cars, and I always tell them about applying Armor All to their boots at oil changes or whenever they're under the car for any reason.

It works! Please pass this along.


Lynn B.

P.S. Armor All works on all under-chassis rubber boots and rubber parts. The outer covering on brake hoses is another good item to hose down with Armor All when the opportunity arises.

Just an FYI.

LB

Don't use armor all! It's silicone based and will then dry and crack just like that stuff does to everything. Sure, it makes them soft temporarially but it acts like a sponge to the rubber; opens the pores and will just plain ruin them. Get some products made by Zaino. There especially made for rubber without cracking. Look up a product called "1 z made in Germany . Great stuff and Zaino as well.

Sorry, I've not heard of the products you're talking about. All I do know is that after ten years and 183,577 miles, the axle boots on my 2002 Accord are still soft and supple. In fact, they look almost new. And I've used Armor All on them at every oil change, and again on a front brake pad replacement yesterday. I see no evidence at all of Armor All drying them out or damaging them. Thus, I'll keep on using it until I see some reason not to.

I'm selling the Accord to a friend who will take possession Friday. We've already had this discussion, and he's saying he'll keep on using it, too.

YMMV...

Lynn B.