Club 80-90 Forums

Are the steering rack boots from BW stretchy enough to go over the UJ joints ?

yonks of years ago I did a racke on a Lotus - by chance, through work, I ended up talking to a british company who made them, Bailey i think!, they sent me some and holy moly they stretched like crazy - brilliant - i've never done another set so wondered if they all stretch like this?

Yes they do. Put a poly bag covered in grease over the tie rod end, and the boot will slide over nicely

The track rods have a plastic collar on them near the rack, which the outer end of the steering rack boot attaches onto, meaning that the smaller hole in the boot should be big enough to fit over the track rod end ball joint.

cheers guys, just spotted my error

track rod end - not UJ joint (but you knew what I menat ) - thats another list!

TONYT25T25 wrote: ↑26 Sep 2021, 09:48 How to change a torn steering rack boot on a vanagon T3/T25 - Bing video

Cheers for the link Tony - its a much easier job than on my Lotus - where you needed 12" long fingers with 5 knuckles that could bend backwards - alternatively you took the whole thing off the car just requiring you to have 5ft long arms with 3 elbows to reconnect the steering column

In the vid the clamps were too short - is that common? and what is the best grease - didn't look like the lithium grease I have

I didnt use that method but did look at it before hand, I suspect general purpose grease would be ok for assisting over the balljoint but not sure what type for the inside of the steering rack itself., still awkward fitting though, I used plastic cable ties to secure mine.  Have a look at this post for other tips.  On reflection ref the grease, I would imagine coating the plastic bag around the balljoint should be the same grease you are going to place inside as the boot will drag some of it with it.

Steering rack gaiter replacement. 1984 petrol - Club 80-90 Forums (club8090.co.uk)