poly or rubber boots
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4,176
Likes: 7
From: Jennings LA
poly or rubber boots
I am replacing my ball joints and I also have a prothane complete car poly kit that came with poly ball joint and tie rod boots. what would you use? is there really a difference in a dust boot?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,269
Likes: 54
From: Orlando Florida
St. Jude Donor '05
well.... it's a dust boot 
sidenote: what is that hat-smiley for ???
I don't really see the advantage of poly in this particular application, I do however not see a disadvantage... maybe they don't dry rot and crack ?? Maybe these last longer than the rubber but the ball joint will still wear... I think with either rubber or poly these dust boots will be fine for >5 years. BTW, I installed the poly kit, too...
sidenote: what is that hat-smiley for ???
I don't really see the advantage of poly in this particular application, I do however not see a disadvantage... maybe they don't dry rot and crack ?? Maybe these last longer than the rubber but the ball joint will still wear... I think with either rubber or poly these dust boots will be fine for >5 years. BTW, I installed the poly kit, too...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 7,454
Likes: 1,480
From: Little Rock AR
I bought a poly kit to do the front suspension on my Camaro. It came with rubber ball joint boots. They did not last 1 year while sitting still in the garage with no miles at all. They all split. The supplier tried to blame the environment where the car was stored but I told him that the car was parked right next to my Vette the whole time and that the 25 year old stock rubber boots on the Vette were still holding grease so it aint the environment 
The supplier did replace them at no cost under the lifetime warranty BUT replacing them again in another year does not sound like a good plan to me. I bought some black poly boots to use in place of the rubber ones and while they do not look stock, they do look like they will last a lot longer than 1 year. 
-Mark.
The supplier did replace them at no cost under the lifetime warranty BUT replacing them again in another year does not sound like a good plan to me. I bought some black poly boots to use in place of the rubber ones and while they do not look stock, they do look like they will last a lot longer than 1 year. -Mark.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 581
Likes: 60
From: USA
I went with poly boots (ES) a few years back, and they still look as good as new. I had to replace the rubber ones (with poly) after the pickle-fork operation, didn't want to put replacement rubber boots on. yup, poly it is (black ones).
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4,176
Likes: 7
From: Jennings LA
Originally Posted by I'm Batman
Go with ES - everyone says Prothane is junk.
its a little late now. the kit came with the car. the p o was going to replace them but never did. it is a complete car kit.
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Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,289
Likes: 3
From: East Waterboro Maine
I believe the main benefit is longevity. Poly boots will stay nice and new looking while the rubber ones will oxidize in a few years and eventually will crack.
Yeah, what is the hat smiley for? I always wondered that...
Yeah, what is the hat smiley for? I always wondered that...