Ball joint boot, rubber O ring?
Discussion
Not an A4 but I've fitted this type to other vehicles.
Fit the boot then stretch the 'O' ring over & guide it into the groove.
They can be a PITA & I find a thin round bar (small blunt crosshead screwdriver for example) can help to stretch it into position while you keep part of the ring in place with the other hand.
May benefit from being heated in hot water to help stretch.
If it snaps use a thin cable-tie instead.
Fit the boot then stretch the 'O' ring over & guide it into the groove.
They can be a PITA & I find a thin round bar (small blunt crosshead screwdriver for example) can help to stretch it into position while you keep part of the ring in place with the other hand.
May benefit from being heated in hot water to help stretch.
If it snaps use a thin cable-tie instead.
paintman said:
Not an A4 but I've fitted this type to other vehicles.
Fit the boot then stretch the 'O' ring over & guide it into the groove.
They can be a PITA & I find a thin round bar (small blunt crosshead screwdriver for example) can help to stretch it into position while you keep part of the ring in place with the other hand.
May benefit from being heated in hot water to help stretch.
If it snaps use a thin cable-tie instead.
Thanks. There's no O ring or metal ring on the original boot, I had to cut it off. It looks like there is some sort of adhesive holding it in place. I tried a cable tie, but there's not really enough meat where the boot locates for a tie to work. I'll try some stainless mig wire, but that will be a fiddle too. 2 complete new arms are around £55, so I may have to stump up for those instead Fit the boot then stretch the 'O' ring over & guide it into the groove.
They can be a PITA & I find a thin round bar (small blunt crosshead screwdriver for example) can help to stretch it into position while you keep part of the ring in place with the other hand.
May benefit from being heated in hot water to help stretch.
If it snaps use a thin cable-tie instead.
.Sometimes, replacing the complete arm is way too much trouble, ie Audi when the alloy is corroded onto the bolts or Mondeos where the bolts need to be cut off in situ unless you fancy dropping the subframe.Far easier to put a new boot on with the bonus of not having to reset the alignment.
Saving the cost of a new part arm plus alignment is worthwhile, Anyhow I use castration ring applicators to pop the o-rings on, available online for about £15.
Saving the cost of a new part arm plus alignment is worthwhile, Anyhow I use castration ring applicators to pop the o-rings on, available online for about £15.
Updating this, in case it helps anyone. I had some plastic sink pipe that just fitted over the installed boot, warmed the O ring in hot water and stretched it onto the pipe. Then just rolled the O ring off the pipe onto the boot. TBH I didn't think the O ring was that strong, so on the other boot I secured it with stainless MIG wire.
MOT turned up a fractured rear spring, another fun job until I worked it out.Gassing Station | Home Mechanics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff