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Steering boot ist kaput

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drooartz

drooartz

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While I was working on the fuel pump tonight, I looked down and saw this.

steeringboot.jpg


My next project, it seems. Looks like I'll have to disassemble the suspension to get at it?
 
Oh rats! SOMEWHERE on th' forum I outlined a "Quick 'n Dirty" way to do this without too much pain... Lemme hunt around. If I can't find it, I'll be FORCED to re-write it (not altogether a BAD thing)!
 
Mark jam nut position on tie rod. Loosen jam nut. Turn tie rod free from end. Replace boot. Reinstall tie rod to end, back to previous position. Tighten jam nut. Check fluid level in rack, top up with 90W as required. Sit on kiester and drink beer.
Jeff
 
Pretty much the whole drill... I mark (scribe) the rod, inboard at any given distance with a set of dividers, from the nut's original position as an extra bit of "backup".

I like to have "reference." I'm ~OLD~ now, dammit!

<pops beer tab>
 
Any method of referencing the tie rod position will work. Back the jam nut off, say, .025" measured with a feeler gauge. On re-assembly, screw the tie rod back in with the feeler gauge between the end of the rod and the jam nut until it's snug, remove the gauge and tighten the nut. Or, you can count the threads. Lots of things that will work.
Jeff
 
"One Mississippi, TWO missippi, ThReE Miss ipsilanty..."


...I'll scribe a "Line inna Sand"... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/devilgrin.gif
 
That doesn't sound too bad. Hope the tie rod ends aren't rusted to the tie rod, though. Ah well, it's always something, isn't it.

And Doc, what's a divider? I'm a bit lost...
 
"Draughtsman's" tool...chartographers, navigators...a 'compass' with TWO pointy ends...


Youngins. *sheesh* /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jester.gif
 
That's what I thought, just making sure.

I see you caught up with the flow of time again, Doc. Good to have you back. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Good to BE back! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/savewave.gif

What I do to index the rod position is this: Clean a place some four or five inches inboard on the steering tie-rod, spray some rattle-can paint (I usually use gloss black)on it, then with a scale (not a "ruler" please) set the dividers to a measurement you'll REMEMBER (6" works for me) and as accurately as possible put the dividers on the centermost point of the ball joint where it is bolted through the steering arm (threaded and usually has a "dimple") then scribe a mark in the freshly painted tie rod. If you score into the metal it makes the mark nearly permanent. Now you can't possibly mis-align it on reassembly, even with new balljoints.

HTH!!
 
Ignorant questions ahead...

So those boots are... full of oil? both of mine are sorta frayed and clearly aren't holding anything of a fluid nature. What's the danger/penalty of driving around like this?
 
Haha, no to both of you, only about a quarter cup of heavy oil in the rack. Yep a bit of oil in the boot but the boot is really to keep dirt out of the rack. The oil should really be in side the rack, the tube part but a bit will get out in the boots.
 
So um if say uh ah i was driving around for um a year or so with them torn... I mean just suppose of course... what would I be doing to my baby?
 
Wearing out the gears in the rack and the inter ball joints.
 
There's a bearing in there too. You'll want to flush it well and put new boots on and oil in. Grease works alright too, but may be a bit stiff in Oregon winters. S'posed to be oil.
 
oh that's the ball joint and rack teeth. so no grease? i thought i had read somewhere to pump the boot with the same grease used on the teeth.
 
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