All Pro customer service and repairs

[rallyben]

Hey guys, I'm reaching out for a friend of mine who's been having some issues with his AllPro front long travel kit on an 07 FJ 4x4.
Here's whats up: drove down to Hemet and had AllPro install the long travel kit. Picked it up a few days later and drove home 60 miles(San Clemente). With very minimal usage, less than 1000 miles and none of it offroading, the driver side c/v decided to come apart and share grease with the other suspension pieces. At the same time, both of the steering rack dust boots had popped off the rack and slide to the ends of the tie rods. Brought the FJ back down and had the guys replace the c/v boot and they also installed a revised, or new design, steering rack dust boot on both sides. Drove the FJ home and by the time he got home, both of the steering rack dust boots were torn. He hasn't been able to get a hold of the guys down there, 2 calls, since he brought it back down there the second time for the dust boots and c/v boot.
I was with him the first time we picked up the FJ and noticed that when they put the c/v boots on, instead of using a c/v boot clamp or similar, they used some stainless steel bailing wire to hold the boots in place. They did this for the c/v and the steering boots. I asked him about it and they said they've never had a problem with it before. The second time my friend went down there, he inspected the new boots and noticed again that one steering boot was secured with the ss bailing wire and a zip tie for the other one. Neither boot made it back home before coming apart.
So here's my questions.. What is your experience with c/v & steering rack boots when using bailing wire to clamp it down as opposed to the original boots held by steel bands? Specifically for the steering boots, is there really a need to replace the original boots if nothing about the steering rack itself is changing when doing the lift? I just don't see a good reason to change out something that didn't need to be changed. Has anyone else ran the AllPro steering rack boots and had issues with them? Lastly, how has your experience been with AllPro and their customer service?
I don't mean to point fingers, I am just trying to get some better information. I can get pictures uploaded later if you want to see the boots. By the way, the long travel kit itself is very good, great craftsmanship on the components and the ride/flex is awesome.
My background is 2.5 years Chrysler Jeep Dodge technician and I do brakes/suspension/front end/tires for anyone who cares.

[EnginerdFJ]

Bailing wire will cut through the cv boots fairly easily. If the wire is tightened enough to keep grease from seeping out, it's probably already started to cut into the boot. There's a good reason that bands are used on them from all manufacturers... they work. Do yourself a favor and get some hose clamps from West Marine whose outer edges are chamfered so they won't cut into the boot.

[rallyben]

I agree about using the bands for c/v boots. He's gonna go get some hose clamps to replace the bailing wire straps.
I had a much closer look last night at the system as it sits and I need to clarify a few things. The steering system is not just stock linkage, I should have read a little bit better on their website. AllPro adds a beefed up tie rod replacement from the end of the rack to the knuckle. The components themselves are high quality and definitely able to handle the extra abuse and droop of the long travel kit. The only problem that is really not fixed yet is the boots that should be covering the ends of the steering rack. My friend did get a hold of the guys down there and they were honest to confess that dust boots for the steering rack and new tie rods has been a thorn in their sides. In the automotive market, there's just nothing that really can handle the larger hardware and constant flex and movement of the inner heim joints. Aside from just tearing the boots off, has anyone found a way to work around sealing these things? My thoughts brought me to front shock covers on dirtbikes, like TTR250 shock boot or similar. These boots are much larger diameter and have plenty of room to collapse and expand. Another thought is to clamp the boot before the inner heim joint. That joint doesn't need to be covered up, only the shaft inside the steering rack. The reason I don't want to just take the boots off is because of rust and if anything starts to tear up that outer seal, the rack could fail fast. What do you think?