CV Boots

O.A.P

My 99 astra failed the NCT before Christmas on a number of minor faults.
One of them is the nearside front cv boot frayed/cut .
I never asked at the time if it is the wheel or gearbox side I thought it would be obvious when I went at it.
So today I went about fixing everything but I can see absolutely nothing wrong with either boot, I cleaned them up pretty good like new almost.
Is this common enough or am I missing something? I can post up a few pics tomorrow if ye want.
I don't want to be pulling the shaft apart if its not necessary.
Thanks for any advice.

biko

If you can't find anything wrong (have you spun the wheel to check everywhere?) then I'd just bring boot back again as is.

O.A.P

biko wrote: »

If you can't find anything wrong (have you spun the wheel to check everywhere?) then I'd just bring boot back again as is.

Nothing not a scratch on either of them, they were covered in crap alright but they cleaned up good.
I replaced the one by the wheel 6 or 7 years ago and used one of split ones that glue together and instead of the proper retaining clips I used cable ties.
I have heard they no longer except cable ties in Britain for the MOT.
Is that the case here now ? I suppose he would have said so if it were the case

biko

I think cable ties are ok (the tester would have said something if not ok).
Perhaps the dirt made it look like the boot was frayed.

shamwari

You also checked both the inner and outer boot on the nearside (passenger side?) Sometimes the inner one is accidentally overlooked.;)

O.A.P

shamwari wrote: »

You also checked both the inner and outer boot on the nearside (passenger side?) Sometimes the inner one is accidentally overlooked.;)

Yeah its as good as new, I will put up a pic or a video tomorrow.

dooroy

Having cleaned the boots well you could drive the car for a day or two - see if any grease is escaping anywhere ; sometimes a small pinhole near one of the clips can be leaking just a little ;If all is well with all 4 after some driving then just bring it back for retest as is .

gickna1

They usually fail cars with plastic cable ties. Replace them with the proper metal ones, hope this helps.

biko

Just curious gickna1, do you have first hand experience of this fail happening?

gickna1

biko wrote: »

Just curious gickna1, do you have first hand experience of this fail happening?

Its regular enough with a lot of Mechanics I know who just replace the plastic cable ties with Metal ones (available at most motor factors for about 1-2 euro each), check with your NCT centre they will tell you what's acceptable.
Hopefully that will sort the problem if the boots are still intact.

discodaveirl

http://www.ncts.ie/NCT%20Manual%20Revise%20May%202012.pdf

Read the bottom of page 88

7 Obviously worn or grease boot missing or torn.


Note: A cv grease boot not secured to prevent the incursion of water or dirt should fail under Reason for Failure (7) above.

Seems maybe the cable tie maybe the problem. However, it does not specify that cable ties are a reason for failing, i'd imagine if the cable tie was tight there should be no issue.

JohnBoy26

gickna1 wrote: »

They usually fail cars with plastic cable ties. Replace them with the proper metal ones, hope this helps.

never had plastic cable ties fail an nct, nor did anyone I know.