A frequent cause of boot failure is them being over packed. A properly
packed CV joint should almost no grease on the boot itself. The grease will
eat the boot material and it the boot is packed, it will not be able to flex
enough. Also, are you using the regular Valvoline moly or the synthetic? I
have found the regular moly tends to separate leaving a "mud" pack in the
joint and straight oil in the boot.

Dennis
----- Original Message -----
From: "Darrell Boehler" <midwesty@MIDWEST.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, January 02, 2000 10:25 PM
Subject: cv boots

> 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