Can I replace the bellows without removing the tierods?
07-21-2008, 05:36 PM
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I replaced the steering rack boots on the gold '86.5 today following DR's method (thanks DR!). It took a total of 45 minutes - 30 minutes for the first one (includes time to make the plastic sleeve) and 15 minutes for the second one.
The make the boot installation easier over the small and big ends, I made an adjustable tapered sleeve out of plastic and lubed each end of the steering boot with o-ring grease. To make the adjustable plastic sleeve, I used a small yogurt container and cut a slit down the side and cut the bottom out.
I slipped the piece of plastic over the articulated joint and overlapped the end closest to the boot to make the taper the smallest at this point. The boot slid up the plastic taper and over the articulated joint. I removed the plastic taper from inside the boot, slipped the small end onto the retaining donut on the tie rod shaft and pushed the entire boot past the articulated joint. Next, I threaded and torqued the articulated joint to the steering rack shaft.
I followed the same process for mounting the large end of the boot onto the steering rack. This time I removed the plastic sleeve as the boot was sliding up and into the retaining groove on the steering rack.
BTW, I used a 22mm wrench to hold the steering rack shaft and Kent-Moore tie-rod end tool #J-45218 (32mm) on the articulated joint.
I hope what I've learned today helps someone with this job in their future.
Adam
The make the boot installation easier over the small and big ends, I made an adjustable tapered sleeve out of plastic and lubed each end of the steering boot with o-ring grease. To make the adjustable plastic sleeve, I used a small yogurt container and cut a slit down the side and cut the bottom out.
I slipped the piece of plastic over the articulated joint and overlapped the end closest to the boot to make the taper the smallest at this point. The boot slid up the plastic taper and over the articulated joint. I removed the plastic taper from inside the boot, slipped the small end onto the retaining donut on the tie rod shaft and pushed the entire boot past the articulated joint. Next, I threaded and torqued the articulated joint to the steering rack shaft.
I followed the same process for mounting the large end of the boot onto the steering rack. This time I removed the plastic sleeve as the boot was sliding up and into the retaining groove on the steering rack.
BTW, I used a 22mm wrench to hold the steering rack shaft and Kent-Moore tie-rod end tool #J-45218 (32mm) on the articulated joint.
I hope what I've learned today helps someone with this job in their future.
Adam
Last edited by Adam Geist; 07-21-2008 at 08:04 PM.
