Boots again

[smokeyjon]

I know this thread is a bit out of date now, but worth a go anyway....

Does anyone know if there are currently any good quality CV boot kits available for 14" front (inner and outer)? VW Trade Parts have told me they're no longer available (but I'l double check tomorrow), and GKN (old by brickwerks) seem to be getting some pretty poor reviews.... I heard that mudlark got some from VW but they're for a 16".

Cheers

[lloydy]

you can fit rear genuine vw boots to the front inner. Outers, i think the gkn ones are fine?

[smokeyjon]

Ah, that could be the answer for the inners. Bit weird that they have different part number though isn't it:

Rear is 251598201; Front is 251498201A (on vagcat anyway)???

I'll check rear availability tomorrow though...

[lloydy]

I bought some pretty recently, so they will be available. They are different part numbers because the proper front inner is slightly different. The reason for this I don't know..

[smokeyjon]

As long as they fit that's good enough for me Lloydy, thanks

[smokeyjon]

I now have VW OE rears and GKN (for front outer) from BW side by side, and you can definitely tell the difference. It's difficult to see if there's a difference in thickness, but the GKN ones are harder (plasticky) and much less flexible than the OE ones which are a really soft rubber. But hey, they're also £15 cheaper, so if they do the job I'm happy!

[silverbullet]

Just to add some fuel to this before it goes out again... I've had "Shaftec" CV kits on the nearside of the SA (108mm just like a 16") for over 2 years, same as Audi 100/200/coupe/A6/A4 up to 2000 MY. The boot rubber is definitely a better quality than that now supplied by Spidan, unfortunately. Here's what they look like after over 20k; note the small clip, different boot design and proximity to the exhaust downpipes on the inner one:



Outer looks like it was fitted last week:


PS these pics taken at full droop, if anyone would like to know the angles I'll measure up tonight.

Familiar looking one on the offside, strange VWSA cv part number 434 407 331:

[silverbullet]

P.S. These kits also come with 12.9 Grade Hex socket bolts and a fresh circlip (the proper Anderton 1400 type, not those nasty things with no ends)

I got them from CAF this time, but the previous pair were from VWSonline in Bristol.