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Re: Steering rack boot repair
If you need to change the inner tie rod there is no
need to remove the rack from the car. Just buy a $30
tool form napa designed to remover GM tie rods. works
great.
Tony
--- archive@porknet.fdns.net wrote:
> Having just done this I can give you a quick
> rundown. The job is pretty
> easy and can be done in about 2 hours if you go nice
> and slow and its your
> first time. These instructions are for power
> steering.
>
> 1. Pick up a new boot from Potterman ($8), and some
> heavy duty black zip
> ties from Walmart (or go for colored if you want
> to match your paint,
> for example). You'll also need a puller, the kind
> that has arms that
> hug the part and a bolt threaded through the
> center that you tighten to
> "poke" out the offending part. I wouldn't
> recommend using a hammer, as
> you may damage the threads and destroy the tie
> rod. Replacing the tie
> rod on a power steering rack requires removing
> the steering rack from
> the car which means pulling off all those power
> steering hydraulic
> lines and it just isn't worth it. Just spend the
> money on the tool
> you'll use it again anyway.
>
> 2. Pull off the wheel of the affected side
>
> 3. Locate steering arm on wheel and spray some carb
> or brake cleaner on it
> to kill the accumulated brake dust
>
> 4. Pull out the cotter pin (you'll have to bend the
> arms back so you can
> pull it through)
>
> 5. Remove the nut holding the steering arm from
> below
>
> 6. Use a puller to seperate the outer tie rod end
> from the steering arm
>
> 7. Use vice grips to hold the tie rod on the flat
> spot on the steering
> rack side next to the adjustment lock nut
>
> 8. Mark and measure the exact adjustment of the
> locknut and tie rod end.
> Write down an exact measurement as an incorrect
> re-adjustment will
> screw up your alignment.
>
> 9. Put a box end wrench on the locknut and turn it
> one full turn towards
> the steering rack
>
> 10. Stick vice grips on the tie rod end and remove
> it from the tie rod
> completely
>
> 11. Remove the lock nut from the tie rod also
>
> 12. Cut off the old clamps (they're too hard to
> remove in one piece) and
> pull off the old boot
>
> 13. Inspect the tie rod and check for damage and
> play
>
> 14. Slide on the new boot. This is harder than it
> sounds. You may have to
> remove the steering rack heat shield (its MUCH
> easier to take off than
> to put back on) to get it on ALL the way.
>
> 15. Secure it in place with zip ties, then cut off
> the extra "zip"
>
> 16. Stick the lock nut and tie rod end back on, in
> EXACTLY the same place.
> Count threads if you have to, but I found
> calipers with the little
> pencil lead stick coming out the end the easiest
> way to make an exact
> measurement. I also score the lock nut on the
> flat part that was
> facing up and the threads that corresponded with
> what was "up" when I
> scored the lock nut.
>
> 17. Securely tighten the locknut against the tie rod
> and recheck your
> adjustment.
>
> 18. Stick the outer tie rod end back inside the
> steering arm and torque
> the nut back on.
>
> 19. Don't forget the cotter pin. You could probably
> reuse the old one but
> I replaced mine with a new one of approximately
> the same dimensions.
>
> 20. Put the wheel back on and take it for a spin
>
> Easy, wasn't it?
>
> I, too, was horrified at the prospect of using zip
> ties instead of the
> factory clamps, but as well all know, Potterman is
> the parts deity and he
> suggested doing it. The zip ties appear to be
> holding up fine, and I
> can't imagine trying to get some stupid clamps
> around that boot in such
> confined space. Now I've got to do the other side
> just so I can have
> matching zip ties!
>
> Hope this helps... sorry for the length, I get
> caught up in details...
>
> -Toby
>
> --
> '87 16v
>
> On Thu, 6 Jul 2000, Rob Bisch wrote:
>
> > I have a steering rack boot that has a small rip
> in it and I want to change
> > it before it gets big. Jason Cammisa can attest
> to how anal I am about my
> > car so I have to fix this quick. Has anyone done
> this? Hard or quick fix?
> > I haven't looked at my manual yet. Can just the
> boot be replaced? I'd like
> > to get it done before I head to the fest.
> Actually, I want to fix it this
> > weekend.
> >
> > Thanks for the help
> >
> > Rob
> > 88 16v
> >
> >
> >
>
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