Steering boot gaiter?

[BIG D]

Hi,

Probably a daft question is there 2 steering gaiters on each side I have a t25 1.7 diesel if that makes a difference,i thought there was 1 each side one of mine has split so it will fail MOT will have to order some,might as well replace them all but when I had a quick look as my friend pointed out it was split I only noticed 2??? can someone help?? cheers Dave

[Therunner]

i'm sure there's only 2?

ours had to have one done for the last mot, makes sence to do both

[BIG D]

Cheers will order me self 2

Thanks dave

[billy739]

1 steering rack gaitor per side, 2 in total

2 rear drive shaft boots per side 4 in total

all the same , all years.

try and go genuine , i have found cheap ones dont fit very will and may only last till next year!

[BIG D]

thanks billy

will get a pair of genuine

Ta Dave

[Nicola&Tony]

Just wondering if anybody who's replaced these boots has got any tips to share? Need to do ours shortly, is it a difficult job?

Cheers

Tony

[billy739]

very easy job , i can do it without even a jack!

undo track rod end , remove split pin if you have one.

split the joint, you dont need to remove the track rod end from the rack.

cut the old boot off , slide the new one on.

genuine ones dont have cable ties as they sit snug on the rack!

do not cut the large rubber donut from the track rod as this stays and is not part of the boot!

refit track rod end , tighten nut and fit new split pin where needed.

[Red Westie]

I would just add......put a straight line (in chalk) across the track rod and the track rod end, only slacken off the locking nut by a quater of a turn, count the exact amount of turns needed to remove the track rod end so when re-assembling you can get the track rod end locked off in the exact position it came off (so you don't upset the tracking).
I'm pretty sure VW did use retaining clips of some descripting either side of the boot (special locking wire twice around perhaps)
Martin

[billy739]

you dont need to loosen the lock nut securing the track rod end to the track rod.

the large hole in the gaitor slips over the end!
this means no adjusment is made to the tracking,

i have removed a few, none have cable ties/ lock wire, except after market ones!

the stretch effect of the rubber is enough to secure the boot.

[Nicola&Tony]

Thanks very much for the info, I've got a better idea about what's involved now.

I'm so glad that I asked on here first, the relevant section in Haynes starts with this, "Begin by removing the steering box from the vehicle . . . " which sounds like a lot of work.

Tony

[Rozzo]

Thanks very much for the info, I've got a better idea about what's involved now.

I'm so glad that I asked on here first, the relevant section in Haynes starts with this, "Begin by removing the steering box from the vehicle . . . "

Tony

good old haynes overkill

[jamesc76]

You must have read it wrong Tony as the first line of any job is dissconnect the battery!!!!

[Nicola&Tony]

Just a bit of feedback about this. Got the job done yesterday, with lots and lots of hands-on help (in addition to all the info help already received on here) from Big Tam, thanks very much

Had a hell of a job getting the ball joint apart. Don't think it'd been done in a long time, the split pin was very rusty and brittle. Once it was apart the boot passed over the track rod end without any great difficulty, as billy739 had said it would.

Then had another struggle getting the ends of the boot located onto the steering rack and the doughnut on the track rod. It was a very snug fit and each time I got a bit fitted on, another bit came off again If I was doing this job again I'd be tempted to have the boot soaking in some warm water to soften the ends up a bit first and I'd have a spare track rod end in my posession as well, just in case.

Thanks everyone

Tony

[BigTam]

Your welcome mate, anytime,

Billy good tip there, got boot over track rod end nee bother,