CV joint boot material

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Millennium Falcon

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Hey, All. The outer cv boot on the driver's side front axle has come loose at some point. No idea how long ago, so with all the dust I have I'm going to replace the entire shaft assembly. I'm looking at the NAPA units, and they are showing two boot material options: 1) OEM neoprene, and 2) thermoplastic. Any experience and/or suggestions as to which one to get? Thanks.
 

wjburken

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Hey, All. The outer cv boot on the driver's side front axle has come loose at some point. No idea how long ago, so with all the dust I have I'm going to replace the entire shaft assembly. I'm looking at the NAPA units, and they are showing two boot material options: 1) OEM neoprene, and 2) thermoplastic. Any experience and/or suggestions as to which one to get? Thanks.
I’ve always gone with the heavier duty thermoplastic.
 

camaroz2887

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Had the exact same question about a year ago didn’t find too much about it for our trucks.

On other forums I found that some people reported having issues with the thermoplastic not staying secured with the crimped straps. I ended up going with neoprene but this truck will see very little need for heavy duty thermoplastic... I hope lol
 
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Millennium Falcon

Millennium Falcon

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Had the exact same question about a year ago didn’t find too much about it for our trucks.

On other forums I found that some people reported having issues with the thermoplastic not staying secured with the crimped straps. I ended up going with neoprene but this truck will see very little need for heavy duty thermoplastic... I hope lol
Thanks for the response, Kacey. I've read the same thing about the bands securing the thermoplastic boots. My driveway and the road to the highway combined, I have nearly a mile of dirt road to travel daily. My concern with the neoprene is all the dust and grit during the summer, and the mud during the winter. I don't know how well the neoprene would hold up to that.
 

wjburken

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Thanks, Wade, I was thinking about going this route until I read about the boot bands failing at a higher rate than on the neoprene boots. Have you seen any issues with the bands?
I went to the thermoplastic after I had a band fail on a CV shaft with neoprene within 2 weeks of installation. Local NAPA store took the CV shaft back no questions asked and I only paid the delta in cost to go with the thermoplastic. I have used these on my old 2004 Silverado and my old 2007 Yukon Denali. I had about 100K on the Denali shafts when I traded it in.
 
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Millennium Falcon

Millennium Falcon

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I went to the thermoplastic after I had a band fail on a CV shaft with neoprene within 2 weeks of installation. Local NAPA store took the CV shaft back no questions asked and I only paid the delta in cost to go with the thermoplastic. I have used these on my old 2004 Silverado and my old 2007 Yukon Denali. I had about 100K on the Denali shafts when I traded it in.
I went ahead and bought the HD thermoplastic units. Thanks again, Wade.
 

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