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Since I lifted my 'L' I go through front CV boots every few months. Can anyone suggest whether there are better ones than others that last longer, or can anything be done to them to make them last?

genuine boots are good, if you are using generics, they may not last long,
its important to get one with the same bellows? u know what i mean, and offset. good to have genuine ones on hand when you select from a pile of generics, if you choose wisely they can last ok too.
I think Oeticker or some name like it, is good, packed with the grease and cv bands that you need, the boot is about exactly the same shape as the genuine as far as i can see, so thats double good.

Remember on the drivers side you need the boot with clearance for the steering linkage.

Also, do you have the boot protecting little rubber flaps under there? I removed mine ages ago when I was taking out the steering rack, never got around to putting them back on and as such I stake the boots nearly every 4wd trip.

there is a new generic brand of cv boots, that I have seen a mechanic use at Ultra-Tune...

some funky rubber compound ones. they only re-booted the cv's, but was impressed by the look and feel of them.

they were german made.

apparently they have a long warranty against failure also.

the way they were put on was funny... the used a plastic cone over the shaft, some silicone spray sprayed onto the cone, and with some effort, they slipped on over the cone and into place!

apologies for the lack of details, its just what i can remember from a year ago or so, as a mate used to work there.

spewing i didnt get mine done

All i can say is KELPRO

They ARE the best after market boot.

Kelpro used a Subaru drive shaft to test there compound that they use for the boot.

Boot kits (boot, clamps & grease) will set you back $23 + P&H
Kelpro offer a 2yr 40,000km warranty

Xtreme_RX wrote:Kelpro used a Subaru drive shaft to test there compound that they use for the boot.

that MUST mean that subaru shafts are notorious for boot failure!!

In a word yes.
Subaru is the only car to run a positive incline/decline on the front drive shafts. There for the boots will rub & fail faster.

I have steered clear of Kelpro brand for some years and reckon oeticker the go in a blue box. Turner Enterprises in Sydney I think sell the German made boots made to stretch over the install cone with sillcun spray. Just the boots installed the old fashioned way might do.

Quite often get what you pay for

I have boot guards on MY aluminium 6" x 4" with an ear tab on one corner bent 90 degrees. This ear has a hole in it to attatch to the loweer control arm bolt holds 6x4 flat level and protects boots from staking

Spray them with silicone spray every time you check your oil
(or the status of your oil leak), this stops them drying and 'working'.
They last twice or three times as long this way.

I have a 3'' lift, and my boots have a fair old stretch when they rotate.
They split in 3 months before I started spraying.

(Good tip- thanks S_R_S)