Steering Boot Replacement
While investigating the oil leak from the cam covers under the car I couldn't
miss the terrible state of the steering rack boot, looks like I got luck as
there was no leaking of fluid from the rack and the inner tie rod assembly was
good and tight.
There is a great write up of the method to do this on Greg Nichols site,
written by the infamous Wally P.
- I put the car up on jack stands so I could get under with relative ease,
this is crucial for some of the latter tasks ......
- Mark the inner tie rod to show its orientation (I used some red paint) and
then count the number of threads from the lock the ball joint to the lock
nut on the tie rod. Take your time as this is important if your alignment is
to stay the same.
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Unfortunately the drop link is obscuring where I marked the
tie rod with paint but you can see the number of threads between the lock
nut and ball joint. |
- Unscrewing the tie rod proved relatively uneventful, gets tiring after a
while though as there are plenty of threads !! When the assembly comes
unscrewed the wheel flaps around and this is were a second pair of hands
comes in useful to keep the thing out of the way.
- Removing of the boot is simple, note that the small end of the boot is
fixed around a rubber ring, trying to remove the rubber ring thinking it is
part of the boot it is REALLY hard work. My boot came of in pieces it was in
such bad shape.
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Old boot waaaay beyond it's useful life. |
- Getting the new one on is fine until you have to get the steering rack end
over the lip where it locates, if Dave hadn't arrived to help out I would
have had great difficulty getting it on by myself.
- When putting the tie rod end back on the ball joint remember to tighten
the lock nut up good and proper.
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All back together |
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