Changing a steering rack gaiter
Gaiters split over time and wear. One of mine, the offside, split very early on and was swapped by the dealer. While poking under the bonnet for the drive belt change, and the MOT test imminent, I checked the drive shaft rubbers and steering rack. Turn the steering to stretch the gaiters. This one didn't look damaged until you look close:
With the steering on right lock though, that little mark becomes:
Ok, I needed a gaiter quick and it is already Saturday afternoon. I check with a local motor spacialist and they have a "universal" one which looks about right. It's a type with stepped ends, you cut the ends off until you come to a big enough hole. The one I got (£9 a pair) had a cunning funnel shaped tube to put over the track rod end so the gaiter could be pulled over the whole lot. Since I was using the smallest end hole I didn't fancy the huge stretch involved, and elected to unscrew the end instead. I got a shock when I found the locking nut only finger tight ! I moved the nut exactly 2 full turns so I could find the adjustment again later and started to undo the rod. Fortunately a little corrosion inside the rod had been keeping the screw threads from moving. It turns freely at the rack end on its ball joint.
It made unscrewing it tedious though, as easing oil was going the "wrong way" always uselessly away from the inside threads. I used an adjustable spanner on the hexagonal (crimped?) section at the other end.
As you can see the rack end was clean and unmarked, obviously the rubber can't have been split much or for long.
The parts are a bit rough and rusty, so I cleaned up the threads and rod with a wire brush, keeping the muck off the rack end. Pulling the gaiter over a dirty rod would scratch the rubber and likely put all the rust and dust inside just where it must not be.
A dab of copper grease on the cleaned threads, and a light wipe of bearing grease on the rod and the ball joint, and the rubber slid on easily enough. The rod was screwed back onto the track rod end, using the nut position as a marker. Secure gaiter with the supplied cable ties.
I will be keeping an eye on this non standard part you can be sure, it can touch the anti-roll bar (just), and is of unknown quality though it feels stretchy and the moulding looks tidy. The originals don't seem to last long.
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