Tear in grease boot

[RyanbabZ71]

Ok i was rotating my tires and greasing my truck just now.  I noticed the drivers side boot (the one that is hard to reach because the zerk is so high, easiest way to reach is remove the tire). Well i pumped in 3 squirts cause it wasnt firm.  Well i noticed to small holes and grease squirting out.  I ould tell there was two small tears.

 

Should i be worried about this?  What kinda damage can this cause?  Should i get it fixed asap or is waiting ok?  My dad has a tear and has had it for awhile on his 92 S-10.  

 

Reason i ask is cause i have a 1600 mile trip next wk to north carolina.  Also how much does this cost to fix?

 

On the clunk nise i checked everything in the front pass side.  Nothing looked of felt abnormal.  Everything was tight.

 

My guess is probably the nerf bar is loose or something

 

Thanks

[GreenRado]

W/ respect to the grease boot, what you don't want to happen is get salt water (not an issue really, unless you're going into the surf in NC), and what you really, really don't want to get in there is grit and sand.  

 

My 2 cents is if the tears are big enough to see w/ the naked eye (appears to be the case here), I'd opt for replacing the boot.  They may start getting larger, or fail completely and fall off, then you're in a world of hurt pretty soon.  While you're at it, check them all closely, if you haven't already done it.  

 

It may also be possible to use some really strong, but flexible glue to seal the tears up - don't know.  

[RyanbabZ71]

I cant really see the tears only see the grease coming out of them so i imagine they are fairly large

 

How hard is it to replace yourself?  Never have done this so any help would be appreciated

 

thanks

 

(salt water - only time i need to worry about salt is in the winter )

[GreenRado]

Ryan, based on what you said, you know some of the boots have weep holes for water to escape, but they look like holes, rather than jagged tears, for example.  

 

Also, I've been known to pump a little too much grease in, and have the boots leak around the base too.  

 

I've never tried to replace these, but I imagine the only way, obviously, is to take the component apart to slip the boot off.  Doesn't sound like much fun to me!  ???

[MarkD]

I have replaced a CV joint boot before.  They make a kit with a boot that is split on one side.  It has a "super-glue" type sealant for the split and a band clamp for each end.  If I remember the kit was about $20.

 

If you do decide to change it, make sure you clean out all of the old grease with a solvent and air, and repack it with a new synthetic.

[2000 GMC]

Ryan, based on what you said, you know some of the boots have weep holes for water to escape, but they look like holes, rather than jagged tears, for example.  

 

Also, I've been known to pump a little too much grease in, and have the boots leak around the base too.  

 

I've never tried to replace these, but I imagine the only way, obviously, is to take the component apart to slip the boot off.  Doesn't sound like much fun to me!  ???

I agree with GreenRado.  When I grease my truck I only pump 2 maybe 3 times.  I have noticed that they have a small weep hole in them.

[GnatGoSplat]

Yeah, I agree, these grease boots are NOT 100% sealed or there would be no need to regrease them.  The boots that are 100% sealed are "sealed for life" and do NOT have zerks.

 

There is supposed to be some leakage if the boots are overfull, otherwise they would probably burst.  I'm pretty sure this is correct, because I remember an old automotive book that said you know when there is plenty of grease when some of it oozes out.  If this is not the case, then I have a lot of work to do, because I need to replace all 11 boots!  

[RyanbabZ71]

is there supposed to be a hole in the side of the boot (2 about 1 mm from each other).  I know they should have something around the top to release excess but not on the side

 

Also the boot was pretty flat before i filled it and i lubed the truck less than 3K miles ago

[GreenRado]

Can't say that I recall multiple weep holes per boot, but the ones I have noticed were approx. in the middle of the boot, ie - half way from top edge and bottom edge - if this makes sense.  

 

There may have been a raised edge around the weep hole also.  Sounds to me like you have an extra weep hole there, and if the boot seemed unusually "deflated", maybe you have a grease leak - all the more reason to replace.  

[GnatGoSplat]

Hmmm, mine didn't have weep holes in that location.  The balljoint boots oozed out close to the edges (close to where the boot meets the metal).

This is the 1st vehicle I've owned that has ever had zerks, so maybe I accidentally overfilled them all and blew holes in them???  Anyway, my old auto maintennance book says some seals are designed so the old grease pushes out of them while other seals are designed to plump up and are not supposed to leak out at all, otherwise they need replaced.  I also have one lower ball joint boot that looks flat, and when I pump grease into it, it still looks flat, but grease oozes out the bottom (it doesn't have that donut look).

[regcab02HD]

If your pickup still has the factory warranty I would take it back to the dealer.  I found a tear in mine after only 1,200 miles.  I took it to the dealer and they fixed it under warranty.