Shocks...To Boot or Not To Boot That Is The Question

[Drey]

Im putting a DIY4X inboard kit on my truck(4-6 inch lift 35/12.50s) So Im gonna need some new shocks. I found some good Procomps on summit for cheap

But Im worried this truck will see alot of gravel roads and them bigger tires will really throw rocks back under the truck I imagine. Would I be better of to run boots and not worry about rocks scoring up the shock shafts.

I do know that water, dirt, and dust etc. get inside the boots and screw the shafts up anyway. What would you guys recommend?


The shocks I was looking at were Procomp 3200s I think. Im considering steping up to some Ranchos with an adjustable rate though.


The truck will be a DD, work truck, light trail truck, alot of muddin and snow wheeling.

 

[Elevator Man]

Giv'm da boot

 

[mrk5]

I've never run boots, never had a problem.

 

[boz42]

i always were boots, but my shocks don't, they are nekkid.

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

On a 4x4, the shock boot is just going to get filled with mud and damage the seal. Run 'em without the boot.

 

[Hossbaby50]

No boots.

Harley

 

[muddermilitia]

no boots, but if ya do put em on make sure they're hot pink 80's style yea

 

[surpip]

no boots for dis guy

 

[blazinzuk]

No boots here either, I run on alot of gravel roads and no problems at all. Get a better shock than the pro comp 3000 thats what I have the 9000 aren't that much more and are way better.

 

[87BrnRsd]

no boots
-Harrison

 

[roadnotca]

Its interesting on this one; seems the factories have it right with the plastic tube open at free end, or in the old days, no boots.
What do the racers run?

 

[MNorby]

I had boots once. Never again.

 

[mini_mull]

Awhh, but boots are perdy. J/K If you run boots thats one more thing you have to remember to check/clean after a run. If you're the kind of guy that goes through his rig with a fine toothed comb after each run, then I don't see what the big problem would be, if not, no boots.

 

[MNorby]

I used cut down ones to hide the mounting of my KC lights once.

 

[ntsqd]

Its interesting on this one; seems the factories have it right with the plastic tube open at free end, or in the old days, no boots.
What do the racers run?

Gravel & rocks can ding or dent the shock shafts. Off road racer go bootless as none of the shock they use even offer boots, but when a shock shaft is a hangy-down part it is usual to see some sort of deflector flap, like Rally cars use, under the truck somewhere.
One of my old crew chiefs had a piece of plastic double zip tied to each shock body (body up mounting) and the lower end of the plastic was stuck thru the lower mount such that it could move up & down inside the mounts. Mounts fwd of the axle won't work this way w/o some mods.

Were it me I'd run the boots, but cut them so that they can not form a seal on the shock body. That way they won't trap water or mud, but they will protect the shafts.

 

[mrdrinksalil]

but cut them so that they can not form a seal on the shock body. That way they won't trap water or mud,

x2- aint no reason to not have boots is there? I say run um. Hot PINK!

 

[roadnotca]

Gravel & rocks can ding or dent the shock shafts. Off road racer go bootless as none of the shock they use even offer boots, but when a shock shaft is a hangy-down part it is usual to see some sort of deflector flap, like Rally cars use, under the truck somewhere.
One of my old crew chiefs had a piece of plastic double zip tied to each shock body (body up mounting) and the lower end of the plastic was stuck thru the lower mount such that it could move up & down inside the mounts. Mounts fwd of the axle won't work this way w/o some mods.

Were it me I'd run the boots, but cut them so that they can not form a seal on the shock body. That way they won't trap water or mud, but they will protect the shafts.

You probably have the trick solution for whats currently available on the market, open the bottom end, same as new factory.

 

[Drey]

Weve got some heavy duty ABS plastic stuff at work I might try to zip tie that around the shock body and go down with it to provide some sheilding to the shaft. Either that Or ill just cut the bottoms out of the boots.

Im not really worried about the front shocks just the rears. Mainly from the front tires throwing rocks under the truck.

 

[wforicv]

My boots cut my seals up as well. I say no boots. -Eric

 

[Thunder]

It depends on what you run. I live in the desert. 60+ mph aint uncommon on a dirt road. I destroyed a set of rear un booted shocks in less than a year. Leaked like hell.
I always run boots. My rear shocks usually look like they have been run thru a sand blaster.

Hot Pink to match the drive shafts!