Shifter boot troubles

How long do shifter boots last? I put in new boots around thanksgiving and just noticed the other day, they have split clean off from the mounting ring for the xfer case and the trans boot is cracking. I would expect this from boots that have been used for a few years with frequent shifting, but my plow jeep has been in 4 Lo since winter, and Ive only taken it out maybe twice since April. This jeep has not been on the road either, only plowed my driveway and the next door neighbor. I got 'em from Craig Motorsport. Anyone else have this problem? If not, where did you get your boots from?

 

I have the same problem! I was disapointed in the life... one year

Got mine from quadratec originally. Haven't re ordered cause I didn't want to waste the money!

 

You might try Herm the overdrive guy. I was at his shop (2 car garage) over the holidays discussing the rebuild of my transmission and transfer case and I remember him showing me a leather shift boot which I think he said he had made in Austrailia. You might give him a call or check his web site. Great guy who just lives an hour away. Good luck.

 

I know that you can get MB boots made of leather. I don't know if it will work for your application, but it's worth checking out.

Kind of like this one at G503:
http://www.g503.com/images/old-parts-page/leather-boots.jpg

 

not original, but look for an accordian type boot at truck parts places
IH especially

 

Not sure if your boots are similar to mine on a 75 CJ5, but Gene at Turner's showed me the proper way to install. I had just put on a brand new one a couple of weeks before and it was already splitting at the top. He told me push down on the rubber all the way around the top; kinda' forming a dimple in the top. Relieves the stress and flex at the top of the rubber. Since then..no worries !!

 

I did that when I installed them, but it's possible that i needed the get the xfer boot down over the spring clips. I know they were all the way down on on top of the clips. I think they're just poor quality rubber.

 

If you look closely at the pictures of the boots you can see the molding mark on the cheap and stiff ones. The Originals are a very pliable rubber and a little thinner. I've snagged a couple on eBay that appear original and are definetley different than the cheap repros.

Here is a perfect example of original boots for an M38A1: http://cgi.ebay.com/Willys-M38A1-sh...008QQihZ012QQcategoryZ585QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Here is cheapy: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Jeep...33703QQitemZ8076071123QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

 

Agree. I found my replacement in a junkyard. It was original, probably 50 years old, and was in near perfect condition. Good rubber back then. Check with DeBella or one of those guys for a NOS boot.

 

That cheapy is the little pos I've got. Definitly going to look into a different varient to replace this before winter. Thanks for all the inputs folks.

 

Let us know if you find a good source, willya? I wonder if Pete DeBella has any, he says he's got lots of NOS stuff...

 

The cheapo ones suck. One year,under a hard top, never wet or in the sun, split,crapped out offshore trash!

 

J.C. Whitney sells leather shift boots that work fine. One in mine.

 

I bought a heavy duty shifter boot for my transfer case. I'm just not sure who makes it. I got it from a local 4x4 shop. I paid $30 for it. It seems like it would hold up well. Here is a picture. I made the metal ring at the base. FYI.

http://groups.msn.com/ScottShannonMilliner/sm465coverplate.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=168

 

I found that shifter boot listed as a D300 twin stick shift boot and will run you upwards to $30.
I read, but haven't confirmed, that a boot from an 80's standard 4x4 ranger works also.

 

JC Whitney shifter boot 85YN0959N fits 1940 to 1974 Jeeps $3.99 each.
I got one of these boots a year ago and it looks great.

This is where I start to look if I need new parts for my old Jeep. JC carries lots of old parts...just got in my new left and right tie rods with ends (4) for under $60!!! and 2 new wiper motors for $30 each.
Ed