Symptoms
Cracked, dry-rotted or shredded rubber boots where the swing half-axles leave the diffs, sometimes with gear oil pooling inside. Owners say the boots keep dust and water out and the oil in.
The fix, step by step
- A one-piece boot means removing the wheel drive, and the front needs a spring compressor.
- Portal Hub veteran Jim LaGuardia warns never to compress the front springs below 10.5 inches.
- Most owners fit split boots instead.
- Clean the old boot off, glue the seam with Loctite 414, clock the bolted seam toward 3 o'clock on the straight side of the axle housing so it can't bind, and clamp both ends.
- A heat gun helps the boot seat.
- One owner found cracks above the bolted seam on two trucks after about 10,000 miles, so check the top of the boot from time to time.
Tools & part numbers
- Hose clamps
- heat gun
- Loctite 414
- front spring compressor (one-piece boots only)
- service manual, wheel drive removal section.
Where to buy the parts
Split axle boot with bolts (7103322600B, clamps not included)Swiss Army Vehicles ↗Amazon ↗
Loctite 414, 3 g (SAV1120), needed for split bootsSwiss Army Vehicles ↗Amazon ↗
One-piece axle boot (7101322621)Swiss Army Vehicles ↗Amazon ↗
Hunting a used or discontinued part? Search eBay Motors for Steyr-Puch Pinzgauer 710 / 712 parts →
Rated for a competent home mechanic with a decent tool kit. Confirm torque figures, fluids and procedures against the factory service manual for your VIN, support the truck on stands rather than a jack, and work at your own risk (disclaimer). Some parts links are affiliate links, which pay us a small commission at no cost to you.