CV boot clamp wtf

My driver side outer CV boot clamp keeps coming off after a few short weeks of driving.

Had my CV boots replaced early April. After a couple weeks the clamp slipped off. Got it replaced, this time made it almost 5 weeks.

My mechanic was surprised the first time I took it in. He had never seen it happen before and he is an avid offroader. He's a certified Toyota mechanic and only uses Toyota parts.

Does anyone know what would be causing this or had it happen to them? I don't want to have to reclamp my boot every month.

 

mine was doing this, make sure that the boot is not overfilled and that its burped, too much air in the boot will push off the band. Also it needs to be clean and grease free where the boot contacts the shaft.

 

Good to know. I'm curious as to how one burps a boot? I will definitely let my mechanic know this when I take it back in because I cant keep having this happen!

 

If I were to “burp” the boot.
I’d gently pry a small pick or screw driver between the boot and axle.
Then squeeze some of the air out of the boot.

I’d also focus on trying to get the axle dry and clean of grease where the clamp is located.
This might be a bit difficult with the axle in place and together. But I’d still see if I can get it clean.

 

Whew. #2wdproud

 

@TnShooter thanks for the tip. So I would have to squeeze the air out of the boot then clamp it as I'm squeezing out the air?

 

Pretty much. Yes. Just keep you hand squeezing on the boot.

I’m not totally convinced that’s the problem.
Have a look at the boot with the wheels fully locked to the stops - Left and Right.
See if your boot is pulling on the clamp?

 

I will try and test that tomorrow. Of course the clamp is currently popped off the boot right now but I could probably devise a way to see if its pulling on it.

What might that indicate? Is it not normal for a boot to stretch a little, say on a tight turn like you're describing for that test?

 

Yes, it’s normal for it to pull.
But that’s also why the boot is built with the ridges in it too.
It should pull the ridges out on one side and collapse them on the other.

It should not pull at the clamp.

 

And if it does pull at the clamp then I have other problems beside a greasy shaft/air filled boot?

 

Or push the boot back and give it some more room to stretch.
Back- as in toward the joint.
But not too far and cause the boot ridges to rub on themselves and wear out prematurely.
(This is common on lifted trucks)

 

mine did it 3 or4 time before i was able to keep the grease from seeping between the boot and the shaft

 

Op are you putting on a new one with the clamp pliers each time this happens or just sliding the old one back on it?

 

Okay thank you for this. I suggested this to my mechanic the first time but he brushed it off. If he can't fix his mistake the 3rd time I'll do it myself.

I shouldn't have even had that outer boot replaced. It was the inner boots that were tearing. But I guess the kit comes will all the boots so he replaced them all.

 

You think yours was too full of grease? I was gonna try to wipe off as much grease as I can with a rag but I didnt know how much it would matter if the boot collar is still full of grease. Kind of hard to clean that out

 

New clamp each time. I don't even think I could slide the old one back on it would take alot of force.

 

TBH, I personally wouldn’t fool with too much.
If it keeps popping off and you have plenty of room and it’s not pulling when turning the wheels.
Then I would go get a stainless steel hose clamp. The screw type. And put it on.
No, this isn’t the right way to fix the problem. But it’s the easiest way.
(This is what I’d do. I’m not telling you to do this)

More than likely someone will say that’s bad advice and wrong.
Maybe it is, but we’ve done it before. Not on a Tacoma, but it’s definitely been done before.
And that was the end of that problem.

Or you can try your best to get it really clean under the boot, and make sure the clamp is set tight.
To do it right those type clamps on there now, need a special tool to crimp them. And you need to be sure it’s tight.
I personally don’t have the tool, so I went with what I posted above.

Maybe some of the other members can give you a better suggestion.
But that’s all I got

 

@TnShooter you have been a tremendous help, sir. I like that idea. My guy has been putting the clamps back on free of charge but if it fails again, I may try that method. Let's hope for the best

 

I should add that after the first time it happened to me it threw a bunch of grease around, I added more but most likely over did it and caused a new set of issues. After that I just kept cleaning the boot and shaft as best i could each time and could see the grease seeping out before the clamp would come off.

 

I have caught mine each time before it's lost much grease. So the grease seeping out is a sign she's about to pop off again? I noticed that grease was seeping out a couple days ago. Yesterday is when I noticed the clamp had slipped off.