Shock Boots

[gabe]

I checked Infiniti General and Inifiniti online mechanic along with this forum 1st. Im replacing struts and springs on my 98 non touring and looking at pricing for the shock boots (bumper backs) from Infiniti of Scottsdale is around $100 for a set of 4. Anyone ever replace with cheaper generic ones?

[maxnix]

Not that I can recall. Why would anyone?

[96'er]

Gabe:

I have an extra set, new in package, that I will let you have for $70 plus shipping. They are for a 1996 Q standard model.

[bullittandy]

I checked Infiniti General and Inifiniti online mechanic along with this forum 1st. Im replacing struts and springs on my 98 non touring and looking at pricing for the shock boots (bumper backs) from Infiniti of Scottsdale is around $100 for a set of 4. Anyone ever replace with cheaper generic ones?

That's a great idea. I bet advance or autozone has generic 4X4 boots that would work.

[gabe]

Thanks for the offer 96'er. I will get back to you if I decide to take you up on that.

But, yeah, that is what I was thinking about bullittandy. I looked online and very quickly found some for under $10 a piece.

[goody90q45]

There was a post about using a universal boot a few months back and I wasn't able to find it. There are aftermarket boots available that will work but for $10 you're probably going to suffer a lot in quality compared to OEM and may be changing them out a lot sooner than you expect. Your call.

[bullittandy]

Oh come on, rubber is rubber. The factory boots aren't exactly models of longevity.

[TBrack]

Oh come on, rubber is rubber. The factory boots aren't exactly models of longevity.

[qship96]

agree,factory boots are one of the rare OEM parts that are garbage,both sets of mine were junk before 4 years old

[Q451990]

Gabe:

I have an extra set, new in package, that I will let you have for $70 plus shipping. They are for a 1996 Q standard model.

He has a '98... probably not compatible.

Heath

[maxnix]

He has a '98... probably not compatible.

Heath

There you go getting technical again!

[Denver90Q]

agree,factory boots are one of the rare OEM parts that are garbage,both sets of mine were junk before 4 years old

I agree, I think mine lasted about a year. Might as well wrap some plastic bags around them instead.

[RAP]

Oh come on, rubber is rubber. The factory boots aren't exactly models of longevity.

Not to be nit-pickey here, but not so.

I purchased some boots from NAPA for a 240 that lasted around three months or so. I am a good customer at the store and the manager/owner took them back.

Those boots just fell apart. I don't know why. May have been already old and dry rotted. They looked new and OK when I bought them.

Jack

[goody90q45]

Good observation. It's a crapshoot buying any rubber components for a vehicle. Proper packaging at manufacture, temperature/humidity control while on the shelf, and the age of the part when you finally use it all contribute to how long the boots are going to last. Hopefully Infiniti/Nissan have controls in place to assure that the part you buy has been handled and stored under the proper conditions and will last through the new part warranty period (one year?).

These types of quality controls are why a tube of RTV sealant used in the aerospace industry cost $150 but the same material can be purchased at Walmart for $6.

[bullittandy]

These types of quality controls are why a tube of RTV sealant used in the aerospace industry cost $150 but the same material can be purchased at Walmart for $6.

That's a pretty cool fact.

Maybe they all suck. I mean if they can make a blob of rubber that resists being torn to shreds with every single suspension motion (tension rods 97+), certainly you can make a shock boot that doesn't destroy itself. Maybe 4X4 boots work better.

[maxnix]

Oh come on, rubber is rubber. The factory boots aren't exactly models of longevity.

On the G50, they are also the bump stops, so depth of the stop and rubber hysteresis is a factor.

Didn't know all gaiters were the same length either?

A Wurth treatment will double longevity.

[Haitian_King]

On the G50, they are also the bump stops, so depth of the stop and rubber hysteresis is a factor.

Didn't know all gaiters were the same length either?

A Wurth treatment will double longevity.

What's a Wurth treatment?

[96Qowner]

This stuff:

http://www.superiorcarcare.net...DSmOg

Dennis uses it and recommends it.

[mxr662]

I tried to price some of the suspension parts at a local discount auto parts place. Nothing was in stock. The steering rack boots were slightly more expensive than IOS. They did not have all of the parts for boots and bump stops. The had front boots, no listing for rears. It was much easier to just order the correct parts one time from IOS. In this case, for me, it was cheaper to go with IOS due to the savings of time.

Andy