2001 Audi A4 Quattro 2.8.
Outer front CV joint boot just replaced with a "Febi" brand.
Never came across a boot in 30 years that was this hard.
Could hardly bend cv joint to re-intstall shaft in car, a real pain.
Worse, I've tried 3 different clamps (properly installed) and
all three have snapped off in a day or so. Yes, proper tool is used
to tighten clamp. Yes, boot is in proper groove, both ends. Yes it
is clean & dry. It is near freezing outside, but about 60F in garage
when installing. Glad this is a family car, I can monitor. VW dealership
has softer boots (ordered one already) and mentions this is not uncommon.
Thoughts before I rant at Febi for sourcing Chinese crap.
Cheers
The County

 

make sure to seat and clamp the big end of boot correctly. sometimes it is hard to get the big end on right, and clamped, if you are working by yourself. Then, leave the little end alone and don't even clamp it. Thus, it can slide up the shaft and find it's natural position. a small amount of grease may leak initially , but most of the grease will be slung into and stay in the big end. I'm riding with at least one of these now on my daily driver which is a 2000 a4 1.8t Q with 220,000 miles on it. I think those new, harder compound boots should last longer as they are less prone to dry rot.

 

As mentioned, everything has been fitted properly since 1st go.
Have a "heavy" aftermarket clamp on now, and during fitting
I heated boot thoroughly with heat gun until it was too hot to touch,
then quickly installed & tightened clamp. Seemed to bed into plastic a
bit. It has held for about a week now, & I have a genuine VW kit on the bench if needed. VW boot definitely way more flexible. Will be crawling under
car for weeks though to make sure it does not come off ... not a delightful passtime.
Cheers
TheCounty