Post by: Fastass350 on March 17, 2015, 01:02:13 PM
Thanks
Chris
Post by: DRobnsn on March 17, 2015, 03:18:04 PM
Post by: baker5150 on March 17, 2015, 03:19:16 PM
Post by: 92xj on March 17, 2015, 03:50:43 PM
Post by: DRobnsn on March 17, 2015, 04:00:14 PM
Well after some internet searching and looking at Jeep forums you may want to do some research and think about whether or not you want to use boots. From the quick looking I just did allot of guys say don't use boots cause it just keeps moisture and buildup stuck between the boot, cylinder, and seal. They may be on to something, I've never had a problem with boots but the vehicles I've kept around long enough to have a problem don't typically get driven in the wet anyway.
If you think about it every piece of logging or excavating equipment has no protection on the hydraulic cylinder rods and they get the snot beat out of them. Same goes with pneumatic cylinders. We have quite a few pneumatic cylinders with no boots where at work in a extremely dusty environment (concrete bagging facility) and have very few failures related to cylinder seals, that might be a different story if we were to trap the materials in with a boot :dunno:
Food for thought anyway, I'll be pondering about it myself as my pickup needs new shocks in the near future.
Let me know what you end up doing.
Post by: baker5150 on March 17, 2015, 04:14:49 PM
92xj beat me to it :chuckle: I'll post it anyway.
Well after some internet searching and looking at Jeep forums you may want to do some research and think about whether or not you want to use boots. From the quick looking I just did allot of guys say don't use boots cause it just keeps moisture and buildup stuck between the boot, cylinder, and seal. They may be on to something, I've never had a problem with boots but the vehicles I've kept around long enough to have a problem don't typically get driven in the wet anyway.
If you think about it every piece of logging or excavating equipment has no protection on the hydraulic cylinder rods and they get the snot beat out of them. Same goes with pneumatic cylinders. We have quite a few pneumatic cylinders with no boots where at work in a extremely dusty environment (concrete bagging facility) and have very few failures related to cylinder seals, that might be a different story if we were to trap the materials in with a boot :dunno:
Food for thought anyway, I'll be pondering about it myself as my pickup needs new shocks in the near future.
Let me know what you end up doing.
These are great points, but why would Bilstein provide the boots then? They even show the boots in their adds.
Some of their shocks come with steel covers over the shafts too.
How would moisture/dirt effect the seal in a boot vs out of a boot? Wouldn't a boot keep the majority of dirt and moisture out? I could see some condensation.
Without a boot the shaft would see a lot more abuse from moisture and dirt then with a boot, right? :dunno:
You guys really got me thinking about pulling the boots off. :chuckle:
Post by: Fastass350 on March 17, 2015, 04:15:30 PM
92xj beat me to it :chuckle: I'll post it anyway.
If you think about it every piece of logging or excavating equipment has no protection on the hydraulic cylinder rods and they get the snot beat out of them. Same goes with pneumatic cylinders. We have quite a few pneumatic cylinders with no boots where at work in a extremely dusty environment (concrete bagging facility) and have very few failures related to cylinder seals, that might be a different story if we were to trap the materials in with a boot :
I pondered that same thing, so maybe you are on to something. My only concern is the rear shocks are mounted with the rod down, exposing them to the potential of being sandblasted over time. Maybe I'll just do the no boot thing and see how the rods hold up over time.
They are the 5100 series, and so far I love them. But my last ones were shot probably 20k ago. :chuckle:
Post by: Fastass350 on March 17, 2015, 04:21:37 PM
Post by: huntnnw on March 17, 2015, 10:10:19 PM
Post by: follow maggie on March 18, 2015, 10:41:37 PM
Post by: Alchase on March 19, 2015, 10:01:47 AM
I have never heard of a shock failing (on a daily driver) because of stuff trapped in the boots. Even on mud rigs, failure with boots is rare but does happen.
I used boots on all my Ranchos, though ensuring they got cleaned out after particularly deep mud runs was par for the course, like repacking bearings.
If I was building a trail only rig, the boot would not be there.
Believe it or not, there is a reason for the boots, under normal wear and tear they do a great job of keeping the vast majority of debris out.
Post by: Pinetar on April 15, 2015, 08:13:26 PM