Rep Power: 310

I have TeinSS and esterday my car started making a really loud cracking noise in the rear when the car went up and down....... I got worried and took it to my mechanic. Turns out it was the dust boot that got a little bent inside and was hitting the sping when it was moving.

We ended up cutting off about 2 inches of the dust boot and the cracking sound went away...... so in conclusion it was the dust boot making that loud cracking sound.

My question is this. I can see that my shock is a little exposed now because part of the boot was cut off. Is this a problem? Could dirt get in there and eventually mess up the shock?

The part that is exposed is the rod when it goes inside the shock......

 
Rep Power: 0

I have cut mine with no problems so far. I cut it back in April and drove it all summer with no problems.

 
Rep Power: 310

i just found my old post, after cutting the dust boot the noise went away

 
Rep Power: 330

i think thats what you said in the first place

 
Rep Power: 424

Any deciently made hydraulic device has a cleaner ring on the piston seal. So no dirt should get into the shock body, nor should you have to worry about surface damage to the piston in the area of travel. I don't have any dust boots period and I've never had an issue.

 
Rep Power: 0

I had that same problem, I went shopping at sams club and had my trunk filled with heavy stuff and hit a huge bump and the dust covers bottomed out, I cut them just enough so they still cover the shock rod when it is on the ground. Luckily I didn't have to take mine to a mechanic because I do all my own work, but at first I thought I blew my shocks, because it sounded horrible. Now there are no noises from the rear, its great!

 
Rep Power: 314

i found out my squeeking was not my dust boots but rather it was the body kit rubbing up against the car where it connects to.