Boots or No Boots? That is the Question!

[Disco Bristol]

Boots or No Boots on shocks?

I have just fitted new ProComp Shocks and I left the boots off for now untill I decide whats best.

[Colin 009]

from what I've read no boots is best.

[clbarclay]

I currently run with no boots on the front, as the shock tower does a good job of protecting them from soild objects.

On the rear I have fitted the boots as the shafts are very exposed, but have not rip tied them on. This means every so often, like once a week or after a wet conditions (wading or puddles) I can easily lift the bottom of the boot and let the water out.

[Budgie]

Well, I had boots on the rear and removed them cos there was some mud & water etc retained in the bottom of the boot.
Since then the top of the shafts, that don't get used that much, have started to rust a bit with the salt air we have up here. Before I removed the boots they were fine, no rust at all.  :?

Not worth putting a new set of boots on now but I will be keeping them on the next set of shocks I get.  

[PUX]

i have boots on mine, they hold a little water the way i get round that is everytime i go through deep water i take the ty rap off and drain the crap out then re ty rap it  neva had a problem  :D

[Tigger]

If you put the boots on there, as others have said you *need* to take the off and clean them out regularly, especially if you are offroading...  they trap mud and grit and that can cause real damage to the damper.

Without them the shaft is more exposed...  but I came to the conclusion that I didn't want something on there that I knew was collecting gunk...  seemed to be doing exactly the opposite of what they are designed for !

[thumbs]

i dont run mine with boots, have to agree with that dont like the idea of something collecting gunk along side my shocks. at least with out the boots you can see what they are like and when you wash the truck you can clean all the gunk off around them

[simondarby]

I run my ProComps with no boots so I can keep a better eye on the condition of the shafts.  Plus they look shiney too..  Coupled with the bright yellow springs, the whole setup is very sexy...

[Henry Webster]

Leave 'em off.  If ever there was a car to be effected by stones and grit hitting the shafts it should be my rally car, but I suffer no problems without boots.

As has already been mentioned, there are the dual benefits of being able to instantly see the condition of the shaft and of not trapping grit and water in.

H

[Mace]

Just cut a decent size hole in the bottom of them, lets the water out, easy to clean inside and stops the crap hitting the chrome stems. I wipe them out once in a while and clean around the part of the stem I'm not using properly. Must try harder.

I tried them without boots first of all but part of the problem when you don't work them hard regularly is the daily grime does get stuck to the stems near the top, i've picked dried on bits off mine with my finger nails they go that hard. I don't want that stuff passing over the seal first time I push them to their limit so I've compromised, as stated above.

[Wolfie]

I'd also be on the "no boots" side of the fence, haven't noticed any ill effects yet. I have managed to dent the body of one of the front shocks with the weld on the inside of the shock tower, must have moved the axle quite a bit  :lol:

regards

Wolfie

[Disco Bristol]

interesting we are on 50/50 i thought more people would be against. I might well fit them in that case, and just cut a hole in the bottom of them.

[Henry Webster]

I'd also be on the "no boots" side of the fence, haven't noticed any ill effects yet. I have managed to dent the body of one of the front shocks with the weld on the inside of the shock tower, must have moved the axle quite a bit  :lol:

regards

Wolfie

Its amazing how much they move - I'll have to show you some of my spare Procomps the bodies are so dented it is a wonder they still work, but they still do.

The only shockers that don't seem to get badly dented at the moment is the rear ones down the centre of the spring.  I am slowley getting to the bottom of the problems.  The most difficult to solve are the front ones on the rear, which just get hammered by the stones.  I fitted some new centre mud flaps before the last event, but they have just been shredded already.

H