4WD vacuum boots keep breaking, need better soloution

[Zoro]

Been having a heck of a time with the vacuum boots for the 4WD cracking in the cold. The factory one lasted 30 years and I've gone thru a whole pack in less than 30 days! Seems like every time it drops down below 15*F the boot just cracks right down the side as if you slit it with a knife.

Anybody have a better solution?

[carnuck]

Piece of silicon rubber hose over the line and fitting. Did mine 10 years ago.

[Zoro]

Piece of silicon rubber hose over the line and fitting. Did mine 10 years ago.

I'll give that a shot. For now I put a regular boot in there with 2 squeeze clamps.

[Monkeyjoe]

Make sure the vacuum line isn't pulling the boots to the side.  make sure there is no "side load", this could be causing the problem.  May have to install a longer vacuum hose or support the existing hoses.

[eaglefreek]

Most likely just poor quality import junk made with the wrong material. It's amazing they were able to make a material that lasted almost 30 years and with today's technology the foreign manufacturers can't figure it out, or maybe they just don't care.

[vangremlin]

I'm a little slow, can you explain what you mean by the "vacuum boots"?  Thanks for cluing in the clueless.   

[eaglebeek]

I'm a little slow, can you explain what you mean by the "vacuum boots"?  Thanks for cluing in the clueless.   

I'm as clueless as you are. I've enjoyed some success using various diameters of nylon air system tubing found in trucks and buses. If I knew where he was having problems or I see a photo I can pass my solutions on to him.

[Zoro]

The things I'm referring to are the rubber boots where the factory joined different pieces/colors of vacuum tubing.

Most likely just poor quality import junk made with the wrong material. It's amazing they were able to make a material that lasted almost 30 years and with today's technology the foreign manufacturers can't figure it out, or maybe they just don't care.

My thoughts exactly. All the ones I can find are Chinese. When they break they're breaking at the seam the mold leaves when they're manufactured.

[eaglebeek]

OK...now it makes more sense. Nylon tubing for truck and bus air systems is available at truck dealers and other purveyors of truck parts. I think you need a piece of 1/16-inch nylon tubing. One end goes over the original tubing and the other slips inside.