Today while inspecting my vehicle (95 348 Spider) I noticed a tear in the outer CV boot on the rear passenger side. I'd like to go ahead and change both inner/outer boots while I'm at it. After doing some searching I found that the inner boot from a Porsche 930 Turbo is a match for the 348 inner. What about the outer boot? Is it the same as the inner? Are there any interchangable options available? Any advice/suggestions would be appreciated as I would like to order parts ASAP. Thanks!
There is a DIY thread with videos in the 348 DIY thread, it's a sticky in this section so check near the top
I did review the videos posted in regards to changing the inner CV boot, thankfully a complex procedure has turned into a simple DIY as a result of Paul posting the helpful DIY videos. I was more curious about the interchangable boots as I am currently located in a rural area and am concerned about ordering parts. No DIY possible here as my home is 600km away. There is an excellent European mechanic in town who has dealt with complex issues on my previous vehicles and I would like to have parts in hand prior to handing the vehicle over to him. bikz: Thanks for your input, most appreciated. 930 boots are inexpensive, some google work found another Fchat member purchasing them for approximately $40 each via Pelicanparts.
Obviously in the UK so may be dearer to ship but eurospares sell the boots for £6.95 each for early cars and £8 for later cars - approx $11 and $12.50 respectively. Not sure why people are considering alterantives.....???? Cheap art ricambi too http://www.ricambiamerica.com/parts_catalogs.php?V=diag&I=3092
i could be wrong, but i don't think the Lexus boot fits the earlier production 348s. the Porsche's is spot on.....however to the OP at $40, they sound pretty expensive..... why not give the one's at Ricambi a try?
Is there a feeling that the Porsche part is better made and will therefore last longer? The repair ain't no walk in the park, so if a few dollars more could guarantee a longer part life, it would be well worth it. That's just a guess on my part, not a known fact.
Having been a long time Porsche owner you need to know that Ferrari isn't the only one with a big built in "tax". Porsche isn't quite as bad but they are a close second. We used to call it the gray and red box tax. Of course maybe it caused by the fact they both have a prancing horse in their logos.
I'm sure there is a Porsche Tax, and the question of the Porsche CV boot being better built was pure speculation on my part. I bought a Ferrari (and a Fiat many years ago) because the Italians but a soul and spirit into a car like no one else can. It's a bit of a love affair (sorry for the nationality stereotype...don't mean to offend, but here comes another...) but for engineering excellence, you would be hard pressed to beat the Germans and Porsche in particular... we'll ignore MB and VW quality issues of a few years ago... messes up my thesis here. Anyway, that's why I'm guessing the Porsche boot may hold up better... but I may be FOS. Of course based on the above argument I should have a nice Boxster in the garage from a practical standpoint, but it wouldn't bring the same excitement as pulling the cover off the F-car. As Yoda would say: "Ferrari's, seductive are they!"
