I have often wondered why so many of these vehicles suffer split boots at about 50 - 70k miles and I think I may have found the answer.

When releasing the front caliper hydraulics by withdrawing the slider pins, many mechanics allow the caliper to hang by the hose - not good practice, it should be supported. I use a piece of welding rod bent into an "S" shape and hang it on the front spring.

On the B5.5, if you do let the caliper hang on its hose, it flops down onto the CV joint boot and the sharp bracket for the hose and wiring connector cuts into the boot.

I suspect this is why so many boots fail at this mileage - shortly after the first pad change. VAG are hopeless at designing cars which are dumbo mechanic proof - they should take a look at Japanese and American designs. "Features" like this make these cars undeservedly unreliable. Given good maintenance (no dealers) they can be reliable and last well.

rotodiesel.

This sounds like a good theory and could well be the cause of it, I have a similar system to yours with a bent piece of metal that holds the caliper in place while I change the brake disc and pads...

Both my CV boots split at around 120k which was shortly after a service at an independant garage....

lol, my both cv gaitors burst at 30,000 miles, and needed both cv joints and gaitors replacing.

Both my CV boots have been done now, first one at 112k, other at 121k.

Wouldn't suprise me if a sloppy pad change contributed to it, but at 121k I dont think its an unreasonable mileage for them to fail...

No superbs eat cv boots. I've done some on warranty @ 3000 miles.Normal.

I think alot of them perish due to the rubber used. Most of the ones ive seen you can see start to crack long before they do.

New ones seem to be made of a harder plastic, they dont persih they just pop off. Hey ho, swings and round abouts.

my superb has 190,000 mls to date, cv boots last about 12,000 mls, must be a design fault, I use my car as a taxi.

I spoke to my local dealer, they said i turned the steering too much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Iam using a very flexible boot at the moment seems to work ??

Mine lasted 120k on the Passat... 12k is aweful mileage from such a part.

How is the car otherwise?

Mine lasted 120k on the Passat... 12k is aweful mileage from such a part.

Mine have done the same mileage as yours Tom......I wonder whether we have a completely one off car, so to speak?

Mine has done 86,000 since march as a taxi and cv boots look fine! I wonder if they have changed the design at some point over the superbs life?

Ben.

Mine has done 86,000 since march as a taxi and cv boots look fine! I wonder if they have changed the design at some point over the superbs life?

Ben.

This is what I am thinking.....