Front Driveshaft Boot / Gas tank shield problem

As mentioned before, something got wedged in between and broke the weak link. This small rock made me think of that while I was underneath inspecting from bumper to bumper. Remembering this thread, I figured it had to be from stuff being flung up there, whether snow, rocks, mud. Possibly fording, or deep mud play if any was done by the OP.



I doubt air alone would break the clip. I agree, cut off the flap part near the round embossed area. That’s where the strength is. It will still leave an open area. But can’t do much with it. Possibly leave a little to hammer the edge and give it some roll in wards. You can Dremel with a wheel and cut with the clip attached, but you best have a steady hand. The clip has a slot, so I’m hoping it can be removed and reinstalled without breaking.

This shield part should be hugging the gas tank with better embossed ribbing support. Particularly with it being near a rubber boot. Go figure. Someone slept on that one.

 

Check out the diagram I posted in post #9.... It shows the clip being removed by needle nosed pliers.... The outer flat part of the clip is plastic and the part that goes into the hole is "rubber"... You just squeeze it and insert it and it grabs the flange inside... NOT a very good way of holding anything..!! I think I'm going to cut the shield back some....roll the front portion toward the tank, and then clean the "hole" where the clip goes and epoxy that clip in there...!!

 

I missed that. Thank you! That will be enough to bend it back and cut safely. Good deal.

 

Aim looking at a getting a different protection all together. This is just gonna keep happening with a plastic clip IMO.

 

Before you give up on a potential easy fix, browse https://www.mcmaster.com

They might have something if you haven’t tried searching their products.

 

https://www.mcmaster.com/#steel-clip-on-nuts/=1bm55nb

 

Reviving this old thread...
I just crawled under my truck and noticed that even though my plastic clip is still intact, the front of the metal shield had already bend to be within 1/4" of the boot. Fortunately, no damage to the boot. Replacing the clip seems like a good idea, but that still doesn't prevent the metal shield from bending. Any ideas for fixing that? I'm considering just trimming it back to be shorter or riveting on a "rib" to prevent it from bending as easily.

 

Hey gents. I noticed after this past weekends shenanigans that the metal plate bent over and nicked the dust cover boot.

How serious of an issue is it for this part to be exposed? Based on observation it looks like you have to drop the shaft and slide the old boot out and in, correct?

Thanks!

 

Crickets huh? Surprising for this forum. I got a general idea of what I need to do (thanks YT). Since I'm going to pull out the slip yoke, I might as well grease it up.

Any recommendations on what grease to use?