First: 95.5 Rodeo, 3.2L 5-speed. I haven't driven this a whole lot over the last 6 months, except to haul my kayak. (Its motorcycle season, and my other vehicles are an Audi A6 and Mercedes 300E). Anyway, I noted a split boot 6 months ago, ordered the boots to do that side, and front brake pads since mine were 3/4 gone.

I followed the directions in the tech article on this site, and found them to be excellent. I had a devil of a time getting the upper ball joint out until I got up the cajones to really wang on it with a heavy hammer, and within three hits it popped right out.

I then was having a hard time getting the stock boot clamps off. Sudden inspiration and I used my air impact hammer with a pointed chisel bit on it, and it came RIGHT off. (I love my air tools, don't know how I ever lived without them).

So, got the CVs apart, no problems, cleaned them up, regreased them, put the new boots on and was putting the CVs back together. I had purchased the Empi kit, and at first I was a bit confused becasue it appeared that I had two outer boot kits, as both came with a clip. I then realized that it didn't matter, the boots were the same size. Anyway, with quite a bit of wrangling and effort, I got the shaft back together. (It really helps to have an extra jack stand to put under the hub, and to turn the wheel from one side to the other as you fit the inner CV back together.

After I got the shaft back together, I got the boots on with no issues... until...

The stupid clamps for the big ends of the boots included in the Empi kits don't fit! I absolutely could not get it startd on the loosest adjustment, slide it over the boot or put it together... it is simply just barely too small <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/angry.gif" alt="" />

OK, I figure I'll order up some better clamps, so problem, I'll hold it on with a zip tie for now...I don't plan on using 4-wheel anyway (free - wheeling auto hubs, the shafts won't rotate, which is also why I waited so long to repair the boots).

Then...As I'm putting the spindle back together I notice the the upper balljoint boot is cracking and has stress holes in it... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/angry.gif" alt="" /> I didn't figure on ordering that part...

Then I notice that the boots that were fine sixe monthes ago on the other side now are split badly... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/angry.gif" alt="" /> more parts I need to order.

I replaced the pads, de-glazed the rotors, and bled the brakes. I must say that these Isuzu brakes are the easiest I've worked on.

So its been a mixed bag. I'm going to have to replace the upper ball joints, and order another set of boot kits for the other side (not Empi this time!), a set of large boot clamps... I suppose I should re-pack the hubs and wheel bearings next time too.

Anyway, I couldn't of one it without the write up on this site. I was going to do as the service manual says and drop the entire axle...

Try the Mecatech boots this time. You can get them from Independen4x. They come with very long band clamps, and I would highly recomend the band clamp tool. It's a real pain to get them tight without it.

Just think how much quicker the other side will go <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shiner.gif" alt="" />

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />Andre

You can always utilize big hose clamps. I've done that a few times and it has worked fine.

I wouldn't of cut the stock clamps off its best to just reuse them. I can change cv boots in under an hour now I've only done it 6 or 7 times that is one of the reasons. I wanted an sas

My Rodeo has a mixed-bag of both of the above.

On one hand...
Both of my inner boots are attached to the cups with hose clamps - they've been that way for years now, without any problems whatsoever.

On the other...
One of my outers is a Mechatech. --- I bought the Full Installation Kit from Matt, and have to say that it was an exceptional investment!

The kit comes with:
-- 4 Boots
-- 4 pre-measured Grease Packs
-- 5 or 6 large Band Clamps
-- 5 or 6 small Band Clamps
-- a Band Clamp Installation Tool (that's worth it's weight in pure gold!)
-- the magical trademark 'Boot-slides-over-hub' Installation Cone
-- 4 packs of Cone Lube (part of the 'Magic')
-- and an Instructional Video CD-ROM.

You truly wouldn't believe how easy it is to change an outer boot with this kit... I'd give it 5 out of 5 Stars -- and now that my passenger side outer has finally split, it looks like I'll be performing that magic trick again very soon <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />


<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Those stock clamps were REALLY on there. I couldn't even get a jewler's screwdriver under the tabs to pry it up. I couldn't get any of the tools I had... needle nose, wire plyers, screwdrivers, nothing on that inner clamp to get it open and off... then inspiration led me to use the air hammer with a pointed tip chisel and bam! Off in less than a second...