Darrell, the premature death of your CV boots may caused by heat/friction.

Here is what I've done to minimize friction:
- before installing the boot, smear CV grease inside the boot well up into the
ridges.
- install the joints completely before fastening the inside boot clamps.
- adjust/rotate the boots so that there is no twist/tension around the shaft.
- slide the boot so that the inner clamps are directly over the knurling/ridges
on the shaft (on a compressed boot the ridges will rub one another).
- compress the boot clamps only tight enough to prevent their sliding on the
shaft (don't pinch the rubber)
Needless to say, you grease the CV joints well and squeeze extra grease into the
boot. I purchased the boots from The Bus Depot (boot label says: "Te Gu Fa")
-Larry
'86 Syncro Westfalia

Darrell Boehler wrote:

> Hi Volks,
>     I have trouble keeping cv boots on my son Tom's 86 westy 265 k miles.
> Doesn't seem to make any difference what brand I use they never last a year
> and 20 k miles. Tom just returned from a Phish gathering with a shattered
> boot.  This isn't a big thing but I tire of packing and replacing boots. He
> and I replaced his boots just before he made the 3 k mile trip there and
> back. Sometimes they shatter quickly and other times they sort of just rip
> apart where they are clamped to the axle. He has no vibrations but he does
> cruise at 4200 - 4300 rpm  or around 80  mph with 225 14 tires. I use
> valvoline moly grease.  I don't have nearly as much trouble with other vans
> or my 78 westy and I cruise at around 70 mph. Any suggestions on how to keep
> Tom in boots will be appreciated.
>
> Darrell Boehler