Seven back on the road....driveshaft gaiters?

[only4fools]

HI All,

Many things appear to need replacing or repairing to my Seven after a 10 year sleep. Firstly driveshaft boot replacement is just one of my projects.

After a looking through the archives I was wondering if someone can please solidly confirm which are the best fitting 'Duraboots' for both driveshafts. I need both inner and outer boots. 

There are 'Firstline' Duraboots and 'Balicast' duraboots available.

The car is a 1998 K series - Dedion obviously.

Many thanks in advance 

AJ

[Jonathan Kay]

I haven't had to do this yet, but I found three useful threads:

https://www.caterhamlotus7.club/forum/techtalk/drive-shaft-boots-left-hand-thread
https://www.caterhamlotus7.club/forum/techtalk/drive-shaft-gaiters-1
https://www.caterhamlotus7.club/forum/techtalk/duraboot-or-ford-part

It would be great to know if Redline stock any... and how about writing it up as a Guide?

Jonathan

[Wrightpayne]

Last time I looked the boot kits with the can that needs 'peening' on were not available in the UK (no google results) however they were available from Autodoc in Germany.

[ECR]

This old post from Dave Jackson

(Dave Jackson)

Went for a blat and noticed that the brakes were pulling to one side. Got home found that the driveshaft boot had split and coated the brake disc with grease etc.
Rang local factors and looked on blatchat, and bought an outer boot kit from Duraboot kit (FCB 5008), bargain at just £7.85.
Got home removed the rear corner, slipped out the driveshaft and slit the old boot off with a knife. Using a cone you then slide the expandable Duraboot over the driveshaft cone and then he’s in place. You don’t think the boot will actually stretch over the cone but it did a grand job. Filled with the grease provided and secured with the provided metal ties (*Use strong cable ties instead - they don‘t cut the rubber).Fitment is the reverse of removal as they say in the book of lies . Wheels back on drop to the deck
It will be interesting to see how durable the boots are. Keryl the manager and friend at the motor factors reckons he has sold dozens of them and folk report 10's of 1000's of miles .
Unfortunately, They lasted only 500miles
The boots are incorrectly sized for the joints and as such the rubber boot flange rubs on each other and splits once again.
I would suggest you find a local transmission specialist. I had all 4 of mine replaced for £60 labour + about £20 for parts from Ford

[Silver Machine]

When replacing the boots on my 1997 Super sport several years ago I got in touch with Redline. They recommended the FCB5008 Duraboot. They are the stretchy ones that go over a cone to fit. Have done 10000 miles over several years and they still seem to be ok.

The Chaps at Redline said that with some suspension setups you can experience the failure as in post 4. At the time they said they had fitted the Duraboot to several Caterhams with no reported issues.

Once drive shafts are out it is a straight forward job. First side took me about 3 hours the second side just over an hour. Used the Alcester Racing guide to remove half shafts (not undoing hub nuts). I replaced all 4 boots while the shafts were out.

[only4fools]

Great!

Thank you guys for your help ... so FIRSTLINE FCB5008 appears to be one and probably BALICAST DBC800 may be an alternative after searching through past blogs.

Shafts are out to ready to fit once gaiters are purchased.

I agree they do work and are easier to fit than the Ford part and can / Peening job and a certainly cheaper than renewing both drive shafts.

Just need to work out which would be the best (FASTLINE or BALICAST) but as 'Sliver Machine' says 10000 miles is certainly a good few years in a Caterham. 

Cheers all :-)

[Wrightpayne]

Dont forget the stretching cone! 

[Silver Machine]

When I did mine most UK supplies of stretchy CV boots were to believed to have originated at or through Quinton Hazell This may or may not be the case now. It meant at the time I fitted mine they were all the same boot but branded accordingly.