Pin Hole on CV Boot Seam

[jammingator]

Right next to clamp on the ridge. Very small hole but a surprise amount of grease leaking both while driving and while at rest.

Everything went great with front end work I did (upper and lower ball joints, inner/outer tie rods, sway bar bushings) but must have banged the boot around a bit... Nothing I remember - I can’t believe they could be that sensitive.

Any way to solve besides a new boot?

 

[JunkCrzr89]

Might be able to clean it up real good to remove grease on outside of boot and then apply FIPG to seal it. That's not a bellow, so should be negligible movement at that spot; thus, FIPG might seal it pretty well.

 

[abuck99]

Really tough spot- since it flexes right there, its next to or on the seam and top it off, the outer boot is a harder plastic so getting something to stick to that surface long term may be a challenge.

Surface prep- RTV or Fipg may work. You can try one of those Slime scabs for innertubes and see if it sticks.

Good luck

 

[nissanh]

Don't use brake parts clearner to clean that home as it might melt the rubber and paint.
Use a Q-tip and rubbing alcohol to clean that hole and put a drop of super glue.

 

[2020 Rocks]

Maybe liquid electrical tape? It comes in a can and brushes on, when dry has a rubber like quality.

 

[jammingator]

All great suggestions, thank you! I'm going to clean it up and dab some RTV on it since I've got some and report back. I've got liquid electrical tape as well - tempted to try it just to see!

 

[OwnerCS]

I don't know if this will fit your need since it is an edge puncture. Here's some info about silicone tape if you are interested.

Many years ago, I used silicone emergency repair tape to wrap a CV axle end on that car that was prone to leak and puncturing the inner boot. Silicone tape does not use glue. It must be stretched where it bonds into itself. I found a picture where I had running for several years. It did a good job in this particular application. The silicone tape enhanced boot is running on a vehicle with a lowered suspension. I've learned over the years that lowered and lifted suspensions place unusual stress on CV axle boots and sometimes require additional steps to keep things running for the long haul.

If you are not familiar with using silicone tape, it takes a few tries to get the swing of it. One you get it set, usually the only way to remove it is to cut it off.

Now that I think about it, I should wrap my new 100 series CV axle ends. The neat thing about silicone tape is continues to work after being soaked in oil.

One time I accidentally dropped a roll into a pan of used motor oil. So I pulled it out, wiped it off and it continued to work after being soaked in oil.

The boot in this picture has been running for years without issue.

Popular brands of silicone tape.

 

[abuck99]

^ I keep that in my trail tools kit intended for hoses, never considered CV boots but thats a great application for trailside CV boot repair.

Good suggestion!

 

[JunkCrzr89]

I don't know if this will fit your need since it is an edge puncture. Here's some info about silicone tape if you are interested.

Many years ago, I used silicone emergency repair tape to wrap a CV axle end on that car that was prone to leak and puncturing the inner boot. Silicone tape does not use glue. It must be stretched where it bonds into itself. I found a picture where I had running for several years. It did a good job in this particular application. The silicone tape enhanced boot is running on a vehicle with a lowered suspension. I've learned over the years that lowered and lifted suspensions place unusual stress on CV axle boots and sometimes require additional steps to keep things running for the long haul.

If you are not familiar with using silicone tape, it takes a few tries to get the swing of it. One you get it set, usually the only way to remove it is to cut it off.

Now that I think about it, I should wrap my new 100 series CV axle ends. The neat thing about silicone tape is continues to work after being soaked in oil.

One time I accidentally dropped a roll into a pan of used motor oil. So I pulled it out, wiped it off and it continued to work after being soaked in oil.

The boot in this picture has been running for years without issue.

View attachment 2269795

Popular brands of silicone tape.

View attachment 2269797

View attachment 2269801

This stuff looks awesome. Never heard of it before. Gonna buy some

 

[OwnerCS]

This stuff looks awesome. Never heard of it before. Gonna buy some

I believe it was invented for the military. It may have taken a while for it to be available for civilian use. A guy in one of my other car clubs from California, who works for rocket company, told us about how it stands up to extreme heat. I have literally re-wrapped engine compartment wiring harnesses with it and made them stronger than new. I used it to re-wrap part of the engine and battery cable harness on the 5VZ-FE in the picture. I already see places where I need to re-wrap parts of the 2UZ-FE.

My first encounter was frustrating because I tried to use it off the roll like conventional tape. Once you get the swing of "stretching it as you wrap" then it works.

I usually cut off strips in 10" to 12" lengths while I work with it -- sometimes shorter for tight places. Since it bonds to itself, it doesn't matter if you use a few small "easy to handle" strips while you wrap something.

 

[jammingator]

I had not thought of silicone tape! I actually wrapped a water heater line with it to temporarily stop a leak until I could get a new line. Well, I bought the new line - about 5 years ago. Still holding and leak free!

 

[wvrx]

I tried the stretch tape for my CV boot and it wouldnt adhere because of the grease, although mine was much more ripped than yours. I’ve had great luck with Shoe Goo sealing flexible parts before, worth a shot. Regardless I’d dab that area clean and scuff surface with sandpaper to help adhere

 

[jammingator]

Well I used The Right Stuff from Permatex, we’ll see what happens! Here’s a before and after. Still shocked at the development of the pinhole itself, the boots seem hardier than that. Cleaned it up with degreaser, then alcohol, then air to dry and to push the cv grease back in a bit. Buffed with some emory cloth and then layered in/on the Permatex.

**Edit - took a 30 mile spin and looking good! Will keep an eye on it and go from there. Thanks for the input all!

 

[jammingator]

1 month and about 500 miles in - still looking good!

 

[bentonrover]

Dab of silicone fixed my exact issue.

 

[TXforscher]

Looks like it’s been almost a year, how’s this holding up? I have got the same thing going on right now.

 

[bamabrock]

I don't know if this will fit your need since it is an edge puncture. Here's some info about silicone tape if you are interested.

Many years ago, I used silicone emergency repair tape to wrap a CV axle end on that car that was prone to leak and puncturing the inner boot. Silicone tape does not use glue. It must be stretched where it bonds into itself. I found a picture where I had running for several years. It did a good job in this particular application. The silicone tape enhanced boot is running on a vehicle with a lowered suspension. I've learned over the years that lowered and lifted suspensions place unusual stress on CV axle boots and sometimes require additional steps to keep things running for the long haul.

If you are not familiar with using silicone tape, it takes a few tries to get the swing of it. One you get it set, usually the only way to remove it is to cut it off.

Now that I think about it, I should wrap my new 100 series CV axle ends. The neat thing about silicone tape is continues to work after being soaked in oil.

One time I accidentally dropped a roll into a pan of used motor oil. So I pulled it out, wiped it off and it continued to work after being soaked in oil.

The boot in this picture has been running for years without issue.

View attachment 2269795

Popular brands of silicone tape.

View attachment 2269797

View attachment 2269801

 

[jammingator]

The Right Stuff did a great job but the boot recently formed a few more pinholes right in that seam just above the repair. Not sure why, it's not lifted as OwnerSC mentioned above (though the torsion bars were turned to bring the front end up just a bit). Repaired again with the Right Stuff and so far so good!