I'm just wrapping up a front shock installation and noticed after putting on the boots that they are not vented. The boot expells the air when compressed and then they collapse upon extension due to the vacuum created. I guess I have to vent them somehow, but how and where do you guys suggest I do it??
TIA

Are they that tight? Mine are kinda loose fitting towards the top. Never had any problems with getting air trapped. Maybe putting a straw in one end of the boot, and then wire tying it on thier. I dunno. If you slit the boot, im not sure if it will rip if it is ever extended or weathered.

Yeah, they mostly vent from the top. My boots cover the shock body where the holes are in the boots, so they can't vent anyway. Matt (Indy 4X) has some shorter boots available so they don't bunch up, but I stayed with the longer ones. The longer boots cover more of the shock and they form a padding between the front sway bar and the shock - no more knocking. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Actually, the holes are probably more for water draining out. When I repainted my shocks, there was a lot of corrosion on them. Obviously I had trapped water in there from one of my many rocky river crossings. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shiner.gif" alt="" />

Pete

I guess I am too thorough for my own good.... I put extra zip-ties on the top of the boots where it wraps around the stud. Thought it would prevent any water, dirt, etc frome getting in there. So i snipped off the ties and it appears to be venting better now. Hopefully they won't pop off of that flange tho. They do look rather longish, but I haven't gotten to the t-bar crank yet so hopefully that will improve their appearance.
Thanks
Eric