Poor Quality Rubber Parts and Hoses

[Welsh Warlock]

Back in 2013 I replaced the subframe on my car and that job grew into a large scale refresh of many of the perishable parts including the hoses and rubber boots. All were sourced from probably the best known P5 new parts supplier.

The coolant hoses are failing to the point where I have a new set of silicone hoses on order and whilst replacing the steering box again (long story) I've also found all of the steering joint boots are splitting.

I've located an alternative source for the TRE joint boots from www.balljointboots.co.uk (boot 3 is a good fit) but can anyone recommend an alternative supplier for the concertina type top ball joint boots please?

Attachments:

[Ken Nelson]

Hi Welch Warlock, it looks to me as if the rubber boots you are suggesting are still rubber ones? If so I'd suggest instead getting polyurethane or silicone boots, since the rubber today just doesn't seem to last no matter where the source is. I'd also suggest going through the link at roverp5.proboards.com/thread/8745/front-suspension-assembly?page=5 which has much discussion on all this. I have used the silicone bottom ball joint boot suggested by Enigmas (Vince)

The Polyboot I used for the upper ball joint is 18x47x30 mm in size and I bought it on eBay from "dmemltd" at: www.ebay.com/itm/2-X-High-Quality-Rubber-Dust-Cover-18-47-30-Track-Rod-End-Ball-Joint-Dust-Boots/222403972558?_trkparms=aid%3D555018%26algo%3DPL.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D57921%26meid%3D86da88879e98484f96423be8907c4768%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D12%26mehot%3Dsb%26sd%3D151691938273%26itm%3D222403972558%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2047675&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851
The bottom (large) hole is perfect, the top (small) hole could be 1-2 mm bigger. BUT, I did use this boot with the original metal cap at the small hole end. I think the metal cap is there to be sure the boot will not catch on the knuckle and tear. I used the cap inside the boot, assuming it is there to give freedom to swivel with our catching.
Pictures below show the metal cap in the proper orientation and I think it should be used.

The bottom silicone boots that Enigma suggested can be found at www.ebay.com/itm/2-X-UNIVERSAL-Dust-Boot-Silicone-20-45-30-Track-Rod-End-and-Ball-Joint-Boots/223486787687?item=223486787687&utm_source=unp&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=PPX000608&utm_unptid=64334e2f-069e-11ea-b20e-b875c0b0bf0d&ppid=PPX000608&cnac=AU&rsta=en_AU&cust=6U391922K3861360C&unptid=64334e2f-069e-11ea-b20e-b875c0b0bf0d&calc=abdd8f005ce32&unp_tpcid=email-receipt-auction-payment&page=main:email:PPX000608:::&pgrp=main:email&e=cl&mchn=em&s=ci&mail=sys&pageci=0b390aaa-0cce-4b14-8a92-640b516379cc&redirect=mobile

Attachments:

[Welsh Warlock]

Thanks Ken. I have read through that thread you suggested.

At least the TREs are easy enough to do and I bought six of the TRE boots for less than a tenner. Time will tell how good they are. They do seem more malleable than the previous ones.

That info gives me the dimensions for the top swivel boots so I'll order some silicone ones as I don't fancy doing those quite so often.