Club 80-90 Forums

Steering rack gaiter nearside needed replacing after noticing tare in gaiter. Managed to get new gaiter on but with both wheels facing forward the nearside gaiter I replaced looks stretched further than one on other side. Should both be the same length when fitted?? Problem solved, had another look at it today. There is a groove in the tie rod which the narrow end of the gaiter slots into, slid gaiter up until it popped into groove then secured with tie grips.

Was it generally an easy job? I suppose you remove tie rod ball joints?
How would you spanner rate it?

First time I have had to do it and it was a pain, but learnt from mistakes and if I had to do again it would be easier. Few tips on you tube, one showing sliding gaiter over tie rod end without unscrewing it. I didn't use this method but took tie rod ball joint off counting turns for re installing. Locking nut was tight as you have to use a spanner. Got there in the end. Now that I have done it would give it 2 spanners.

I left my tie rods on. Hardest bit was getting your finger in the boot and rotating around whilst pulling it back over. Bit of an art. Thomas Exovcds (You Tube) makes it look easy, it isn’t with the tie rods still on, lying on your back with limited clearance.

https://youtu.be/BIgLtKpyriU" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I used a long bit of steel bent at ninety degrees at the end similar to a coat hanger but not so narrow as to damage the gaiter instead of my fingers, also found it easier to fit the gaiter rotating anti clockwise and tugging gently on it with the steel bit. Fitting the narrow end last I found a better method keeping it outside of its securing point before tying into place.

Now you mention it, I did end up doing something similar. Get a bit on, then rotate the boot around. ie rotate the boot, not the finger.

Exactly, trying not to kink the gaiter in the process.

I tried this yesterday, my fingers are very sore and gave up I got the boots over the tie rod end, that was the easy part. Stretching the boot end onto the steering rack I found impossible though, before my time ran out. I'm taking it for the mot in a few days, so I think I'll leave that to them- should be easier on a lift.

I found out by trial and error, was to push gaiter on the rod but do not secure the narrow bit, then the larger bit could be manipulated by twisting and rotating it around the groove in the rack then secure it as mentioned above I used a bit of metal to pluck at it when fixing, finally slot the narrow end over the rubber grommet making sure that it sits in the groove on the rod then secure that one.