How many hours to change steering rack boot &....
Moderators: User administrators, Moderators
How many hours to change steering rack boot &....
Front upper wishbone bushes? (Long bolts ones)
Mechanic says between 2 and 2.5 hrs to change both
Does this sound right ??
Many thanks
Mechanic says between 2 and 2.5 hrs to change both
Does this sound right ??
Many thanks
1.7 KY diesel ex Deutsche Post van
- T25Convert
- Registered user
- Posts: 401
- Joined: 20 Jun 2009, 09:27
- 80-90 Mem No: 7819
- Location: Chester
Re: How many hours to change steering rack boot &....
Afternoon,
Good to bump into you this week - I'm assuming from this then it didn't pass the MOT!?
Seems pretty good to me - if you have a look here https://club8090.co.uk/wiki/St ... one_bushes you'll see the upper wishbone bushed are a bit involved!
Cheers,
Alex
Good to bump into you this week - I'm assuming from this then it didn't pass the MOT!?
Seems pretty good to me - if you have a look here https://club8090.co.uk/wiki/St ... one_bushes you'll see the upper wishbone bushed are a bit involved!
Cheers,
Alex
RIP - George - 1.9DG '85 AutoSleeper Trident - rusted away
George Second - 1.9DG '89 Caravelle
George Second - 1.9DG '89 Caravelle
Re: How many hours to change steering rack boot &....
In case you didnt know.You will also need the camber resetting.
2.1 LPG/Petrol Auto Caravelle
"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits"
"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits"
Re: How many hours to change steering rack boot &....
I had a pre mot so have ordered parts from vw heritage (don't have proper internet connection) parts will be delivered tomorrow morn job done.
Was great meeting a fellow 8090er and at an amazing site with great views.
Re camber will ensure this is carried out.
Was great meeting a fellow 8090er and at an amazing site with great views.
Re camber will ensure this is carried out.
1.7 KY diesel ex Deutsche Post van
- BOXY
- Registered user
- Posts: 1101
- Joined: 21 Feb 2009, 15:37
- 80-90 Mem No: 8826
- Location: Sunny SouthWest
Re: How many hours to change steering rack boot &....
Soak all the nuts/threads in plus-gas if you can. Just fitting a new steering rack boot can go two ways:
Remove split pin.
Undo 19mm castellated nut.
Push tie-rod end up.
Cut cable-tie securing old gaiter and remove.
Fit new gaiter over tie-rod end and secure with 2x cable ties.
Re-position tie-rod end.
Re-torque 19mm nut.
Re-fit new split pin.
Total time 10-15 minutes.
Alternatively:
Remove split pin.
Find 19mm nut is seized.
Spend 20 minutes looking for a piece of scaffold pole to use as an extension to socket handle.
Attach extension and strain until the 19mm nut rounds off.
Find a slightly smaller imperial socket and hammer that onto round 19mm nut.
Round 19mm nut some more until it has no flats left at all.
Spend a further 20 minutes finding a small cold chisel and a big hammer.
Hammer rounded nut pointlessly until half of it has chipped off.
For good measure use the chisel to rip a chunk of thread off the tie-rod end.
Stop what you're doing and drive to GSF to buy a new tie-rod end.
Place new tie-rod end and gaiter on passenger seat, drive to local garage and hand over £50.
Total time 3 hours + 2 hours at the garage.
You don't want to know what can go wrong with the upper wish-bone bushes.
Remove split pin.
Undo 19mm castellated nut.
Push tie-rod end up.
Cut cable-tie securing old gaiter and remove.
Fit new gaiter over tie-rod end and secure with 2x cable ties.
Re-position tie-rod end.
Re-torque 19mm nut.
Re-fit new split pin.
Total time 10-15 minutes.
Alternatively:
Remove split pin.
Find 19mm nut is seized.
Spend 20 minutes looking for a piece of scaffold pole to use as an extension to socket handle.
Attach extension and strain until the 19mm nut rounds off.
Find a slightly smaller imperial socket and hammer that onto round 19mm nut.
Round 19mm nut some more until it has no flats left at all.
Spend a further 20 minutes finding a small cold chisel and a big hammer.
Hammer rounded nut pointlessly until half of it has chipped off.
For good measure use the chisel to rip a chunk of thread off the tie-rod end.
Stop what you're doing and drive to GSF to buy a new tie-rod end.
Place new tie-rod end and gaiter on passenger seat, drive to local garage and hand over £50.
Total time 3 hours + 2 hours at the garage.
You don't want to know what can go wrong with the upper wish-bone bushes.

2ltr Aircooled CU with twin Solex's & originally a 009 dizzie, but now back to standard.
Re: How many hours to change steering rack boot &....
MOT done !
£230 all in
£230 all in
1.7 KY diesel ex Deutsche Post van
-
- Registered user
- Posts: 2673
- Joined: 03 Apr 2007, 12:54
- 80-90 Mem No: 8386
- Location: Nottingham
Re: How many hours to change steering rack boot &....
2 to 2.5 hours is very good.
Wishbone rubbers are around 1.2 hours per side (this includes spot welding the new ones in place)
Steering rack gaiters about 0.7 hours each side.
Camber and tracking another hour.
So 4.8 hours labour approx....to do it properly? lol..was it done properly?
Camber effects tracking and visa versa.
And a professional does not use cable ties on steering rack gaiters....
Martin
Wishbone rubbers are around 1.2 hours per side (this includes spot welding the new ones in place)
Steering rack gaiters about 0.7 hours each side.
Camber and tracking another hour.
So 4.8 hours labour approx....to do it properly? lol..was it done properly?
Camber effects tracking and visa versa.
And a professional does not use cable ties on steering rack gaiters....

Martin
1989 California 2.1MV
Re: How many hours to change steering rack boot &....
Not a cable tie in sight
And have had the work carried out at a classic car specialist whilst in the Lake District and the guy does lots of t25.
Only needed one side doing.
Keep watching for my next instalment of the van in the next day or two!
And have had the work carried out at a classic car specialist whilst in the Lake District and the guy does lots of t25.
Only needed one side doing.
Keep watching for my next instalment of the van in the next day or two!
1.7 KY diesel ex Deutsche Post van
-
- Registered user
- Posts: 2673
- Joined: 03 Apr 2007, 12:54
- 80-90 Mem No: 8386
- Location: Nottingham
Re: How many hours to change steering rack boot &....
One side....that explains it! just under 2 hours then.
I always wince when people mention garage bills eeeek! thank god I don't see many of those.
Martin
I always wince when people mention garage bills eeeek! thank god I don't see many of those.
Martin
1989 California 2.1MV
Re: How many hours to change steering rack boot &....
That was with parts and the mot so not bad at all...£54 of that was MOT
1.7 KY diesel ex Deutsche Post van
- BOXY
- Registered user
- Posts: 1101
- Joined: 21 Feb 2009, 15:37
- 80-90 Mem No: 8826
- Location: Sunny SouthWest
Re: How many hours to change steering rack boot &....
And a professional does not use cable ties on steering rack gaiters....![]()
What's wrong with using stainless cable ties?
http://www.indigo.co/Item/stainless-ste ... ies-125-46
2ltr Aircooled CU with twin Solex's & originally a 009 dizzie, but now back to standard.
-
- Registered user
- Posts: 2673
- Joined: 03 Apr 2007, 12:54
- 80-90 Mem No: 8386
- Location: Nottingham
Re: How many hours to change steering rack boot &....
BOXY wrote:And a professional does not use cable ties on steering rack gaiters....![]()
What's wrong with using stainless cable ties?
http://www.indigo.co/Item/stainless-ste ... ies-125-46
Nothing at all.....but you knew that before you asked

We used to use lock wire at one time as well.
Martin
1989 California 2.1MV