wow.
surprised there is such an issue going on.
I must have at least a dozen original vanagon CV joint boots......waiting to
be used somewhere.
and one or two new ones in stock.
 I do see the occasional shot boot ...but never one after I've put on a good
one.

  For me it's been put 'em on with plenty of good grease, and not excessive
or significant play at the balls..
and that's good for a long, long time.
  Like 'non-issue' for a long time.
I  do put in the better 12 point cv joint screws usually though.

so I can't see making some 'emergency repair almost' leather thing ..
when no problem exists , that I can tell, in the first place.

if it's that big a deal ..has anyone tried a VW dealer for CV joint boots ?
'Usually-suppossidly-used-to-be' ...............you get the really top grade
stuff from the Dealer.
Worth checking out I'd think.

if the grease is thought to be a factor perhaps..
I just use black moly-graph grease ...and plenty of it.
the stock amount is not nearly enough in my experinece...........over time.

I have seen many CV's , particulily innners without enough grease in them
after a few years.
I think the inners run hotter..  ( and it's almost like the grease
evaporates some )
and 'just enough' grease is not enough at all after a few years.
I fill that 'flange bowl' with grease..
fill the boot fairly well, and of course pack it into the balls.  Lots
squeases out when I tighten the screws, and I clean that up.
And i'm not having any issues ever, about CV's , boots,  grease, or screws,
fwiw.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Felder" <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, August 30, 2011 3:13 PM
Subject: Re: clamps for cv boots, ridged washers for cv bolts

>I am having my local shop save me some of the metal parts of discarded
> boots. I am going to try to sew up some leather (or even waterproof nylon)
> boots to replace the rubber.
>
>
>
> Jim
>
> On Tue, Aug 30, 2011 at 4:48 PM, mark drillock <mdrillock@cox.net> wrote:
>
>> I have had a lot of early failures of replacement boots myself and would
>> love to find a source for boots that would last even 1/4th as long as the
>> originals did. I have had new boots rot off a parked van inside of a
>> year,
>> parked next to a van with 20+ year old original boots still intact. I
>> have
>> wondered if it the grease, the rubber, both, or what?
>>
>> I don't see much need for clamping the small ends either. I guess if you
>> drive a lot in deep water it might make a difference.
>>
>> Mark
>>
>>
>> Jim Felder wrote:
>>
>>> Let me rephrase that. Never have I seen evidence of either water or dirt
>>> in
>>> an INTACT CV joint.
>>>
>>> The constant splitting of this new rubber product everyone has gone to
>>> is
>>> what has me concerned.
>>>
>>> Jim
>>>
>>>