Hi All, with the mot looming, I checked under my Impreza Classic Sport, MY99, to find an outer front cv boot oozing grease. Not badly, but enough to fail. This is the same boot I'd replaced 12 months ago as the original one I'd inadvertently melted with my hot air gun... (don't ask...) So yesterday I rushed out and bough another Bailcast split boot as time was tight, (mot was booked for today). On inspection, the previous split boot was cracking along the glued seam, and that's where the grease was oozing from. Fitted new boot OK, tho' the smaller diameter end I found to be not long enough, really, to adequately fit the band. The larger end band went on a breeze, the smaller end band not so easy. Finally as light was fading, I managed to bodge it in place, took it for a quick test drive and all was well. Today's mot was a success but the helpful technician noticed the band wasn't on very well and advised me to replace that band with a cable tie. He said the larger end needs the proper band, but the small end can get away with a cable tie. I intend to either replace the split boot with a stretchy boot, or a Blue Print one, both of which I've got but haven't the experience of either removing the axle or disconnecting it from the hub. Anyway, Scoobs lives for another year.... Phew!

 

just buy the correct Subaru boots and fit for another 20years of life...........

 

Yeah, agreed, I managed to change an inner CV boot for a genuine one, but the outer required the axle to be removed from the hub...and I doubt I'm up to the challenge at the mo on a 25 year old car. It's on me bucket list tho' 👍

 

.... deja vu all over again! Yes, chums, these Bailcast split boots do what they say on the box... they split!.. took another year(almost) so I've got a month to sort it out... It's not the easy inner cv, but the more challenging outer one. Anyone removed the outer joint to fit a new boot in situ? Plenty of guides on youtube how to do the inner boot, but not the outer... Wonder why...?

 

Bailcast stretch boots are ok. (when used with the stretching tool). You'll get a good 5yrs out of them, maybe more.

The split boots however are junk. They purely exist to pass a MOT on the day and nothing more.