Very easy way to install the rubber boots behind the center vents..

[Rich_NYS]

Dude.....this just changed my life.

Those two boots were the bane of my existence until I read your post. My rubber boots were/are distorted; I was struggling with the reassembly, with a moment of [expensive] rage probably not far off.

Last night I put the boots on the vent and wedged some folded paper towels between the boots & vent housing (to "splay" it out a bit) then put it in the freezer.

Today I installed the boots, then the vent in about 30 seconds....nice!

*Edit in bold.

[Rich_NYS]

I saw this a while back but sadly mine were too distorted to make this work

The square part on mine were distorted, but I put them on the vent assembly first, then into the freezer so they'd hold the shape.

[lazabby]

Pictures?

[Rich_NYS]

Pictures?

I didn't think to take pics, sorry.

[Rich]

Dude.....this just changed my life.

Those two boots were the bane of my existence until I read your post. My rubber boots were/are distorted; I was struggling with the reassembly, with a moment of [expensive] rage probably not far off.

Last night I put the boots on the vent and wedged some folded paper towels between the boots & vent housing (to "splay" it out a bit.)

Today I installed the boots, then vent in about 30 seconds....nice!

Yes, Jawn101 IS a genius.

For those trying to recover mangled boots with this method don't give up. Take the vent and the boot out of the car and warm the boot up a bit. It's just vinyl and can take a little heat from a hair dryer. When it gets more flexible then work it onto the vent in order to set it up for the freeze + installation. I like the idea of the paper towels as spacers during this 'boot adjustment' step.

Let it sit that way for a day or two. It can't hurt. Then do Jawn's freeze-down and proceed with an easy installation.

[jawn101]

Who would have thought this would be my best idea yet? I thought for sure it would be the hamburger earmuffs. Oh well.

[Josh]

Who would have thought this would be my best idea yet? I thought for sure it would be the hamburger earmuffs. Oh well.

sounds like a close second to me.
You have to start getting patents for all your genius.