Plug Boots

knightr · April 4, 2009

Does anyone out there know of a good spark plug boot puller that really works?

These new style plug boots are a PITA to get off without pulling a muscle or tearing a tendon,

especially the rear ones since GM decided to put the engine under the dashboard. It's like

trying to change the plugs on a GMC safari van I used to own.

Remember guys that I am coming from a 87 chevy pickup that I could sit on the fenderwells and

work on the engine. It had the old style boots that were easy to get off.

...thanx for any help

MikeInCtown · April 4, 2009

Why do you need to take them off already?

I found that when I did mine on the 04 I twisted the boot as much as I could and then pulled on the wire with one hand and gripped the end of the boot with some channel lock pliers and pulled. Busted 2 of the wires but I was replacing them anyway. It was a PIA though.

knightr · April 4, 2009

Why do you need to take them off already?

I found that when I did mine on the 04 I twisted the boot as much as I could and then pulled on the wire with one hand and gripped the end of the boot with some channel lock pliers and pulled. Busted 2 of the wires but I was replacing them anyway. It was a PIA though.

I don't need to take them off of mine, but my two sons have a 05 Silverado and an 04 Sierra and I

have helped them change theirs. When my time comes I want to have a puller that works so I don't

break any wires or pull a muscle.

CapitalTruck · April 4, 2009

I got a newsflash, when the time comes for you to get new plugs (90k-110k miles) you should replace the wires with them as maintenance. The things go bad over time.

cujo8 · April 4, 2009

I bought a set of OEM Brand "Heavy Duty Spark Plug Pliers" from Autozone and they did not work for Sh*T! They may have been broken/loose from the factory, but one of the ends would twist when I tried to clamp down on the metal spark plug boot heat shield and would just slip off the boot. I ended up using a small set of channel-lock pliers to remove the boots and you're correct when you say they're a PITA to get them off. I'm returning the defective spark plug boot pulling pliers on Monday, I'll let you know if I find a decent pair that works. BTW don't forget to use a little anti-seize on the spark plug threads if they are going into aluminium heads.

svensk · April 4, 2009

pliers+ twist + pull = only way to do it. Then when you put it back together, use some dielectric grease on the boot connector and next time they will snap right out just by pulling with your fingers.