[princeben]

How do you get Inner Clamp Off and ON on the Rubber Bellow/Boot on the Rack of the Steering?

As you follow the tie-rod into the car, there is outer clamp thats easy to get to but How do you et the inner one off? You can't reach it from the hood top; Underneath there is no hole opening. You don't have to Remove the drive shafts to get the clamp off and on Do you???

 

[Sam Elm]

How do you get Inner Clamp Off and ON on the Rubber Bellow/Boot on the Rack of the Steering?

As you follow the tie-rod into the car, there is outer clamp thats easy to get to but How do you et the inner one off? You can't reach it from the hood top; Underneath there is no hole opening. You don't have to Remove the drive shafts to get the clamp off and on Do you???

What kind of clamp is on yours? I reach through the (albeit small) opening with a long needle nose pliers where the tie rod end passes through into the wheel well. I then push the clamp off the boot, pull the boot off, then pull the clamp off. New boot went on, then used the provided zip tie instead of a proper clamp.

 

[grif900]

The O.E. clamps are not reusable. The best way I have found to get at them is from under the car.

 

[euromobile900]

My new rack boots didn't come with clamps, so I used zip ties, but have had problems with the boots slipping off. I hate to think how long I must've driven it with the boot just flopping around under there. As others have done, I just stuck a needle-nose through the hole and got at the zip-tie that way, but it really is a pain. I first tried hose clamps as possible alternatives to the original clamps, but they deformed the boots too much, preventing air from getting through the small tube that runs from one side to the other. I was able to get a 1/4" drive socket wrench in there to tighten the hose clamps, though:cheesy:

 

[grif900]

Hose clamps are too wide And will "spit off". Cable ties will work if you can get them to seat into the groove for the O.E. clamps, they really need to be well seated and very tight wich is a challenge.

 

[princeben]

What kind of clamp is on yours? I reach through the (albeit small) opening with a long needle nose pliers where the tie rod end passes through into the wheel well. I then push the clamp off the boot, pull the boot off, then pull the clamp off. New boot went on, then used the provided zip tie instead of a proper clamp.

I haven't got a chance to look that far, but from above looks like the type you mention you had. Hopefully next weekend, I can see what kinda of clamp it is?

Do most new boots come with the zip tie? Is the zip tie hard to get tight?

Thanks for the info.

 

[princeben]

The O.E. clamps are not reusable. The best way I have found to get at them is from under the car.

I was at junk yard checking that bellow area underneath the car on a similar 900, didn't seem to be hole or space to get to it but it was on top of another car with the tire on, so I couldn't really get totally underneath.

 

[princeben]

My new rack boots didn't come with clamps, so I used zip ties, but have had problems with the boots slipping off. I hate to think how long I must've driven it with the boot just flopping around under there. As others have done, I just stuck a needle-nose through the hole and got at the zip-tie that way, but it really is a pain. I first tried hose clamps as possible alternatives to the original clamps, but they deformed the boots too much, preventing air from getting through the small tube that runs from one side to the other. I was able to get a 1/4" drive socket wrench in there to tighten the hose clamps, though:cheesy:

As you mention that you don't know "how long I must've driven it with the boot just flopping around under there."

To you or anyone else, how critical is it not changing the boot immediately. (can't afford it right now)???

At this time don't I know how many miles has been driven on the torn boot.

 

[princeben]

Anybody know how important it is changing this Boot out??? or is it not that bad driving on it cracked?

 

[grif900]

If you drive with the rack-boots loose or cracked the rack seals will not last very long.

 

[princeben]

If you drive with the rack-boots loose or cracked the rack seals will not last very long.

Thanks for the reply, makes sense. I'll just have to get it repaired asap.

I should have checked that area before buying so seller could have reduced the price or had him fix it. hee hee

 

[princeben]

Is it good to clean that area with some kind of compund before putting the new boot on? If so, what do you all recommend?