Date: Sun, 15 Aug 2004 22:03:32 -0500
Reply-To: Jim Felder <felder@KNOLOGY.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jim Felder <felder@KNOLOGY.NET>
Subject: Re: Power Steering rack boot
In-Reply-To: <20040816022001.72135.qmail@web81103.mail.yahoo.com>
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If it's just the boot you need, it's simple enough to pop of the
steering knuckles with a puller and remove them and slide on a new
boot. I don't think my original boots nor their replacements had a
clamp.
If you remove the knuckles, be sure to use a dial caliper or similar to
keep track of the distance from the center of the knuckle cap to some
known point--the last thread on the tie rods, say, so you can record
the distance and reposition them exactly to save your self an alignment
job.
If you're adding PS fluid, then it's a rebuilt rack you need, not
boots. The boots keep road junk out, they don't keep PS fluid in. Your
seals do that, and if they are leaking, it's replacement time.
Jim
On Aug 15, 2004, at 9:20 PM, Barry Muller wrote:
> A few years back I spared no expense and had a local
> stealership replace the PWR steering rack in my '91
> carat. Well a couple days back. while recconoitering
> the impending radiator swap I noticed that the boots
> were not attached to the rack and so, of course,
> allowed water and grit to get to the seals. The new
> rack is already leaking from the diver's-side seal.
>
> Of course I would really like to go back to the
> stealership and have them replace the rack which is
> failing do to their shoddy workmanship (no sign of
> clamps on either side - it is questioanble if they
> ever even pushed the boot onto the rack). Of course
> that is non-starter - so shame on me for not checking
> their work immediately.
>
> Anyrate, the boot on the driver's side is torn at the
> cuff so I cannot even attach it to the rack with a
> clamp (as I've already done on the passenger side.
>
> My questions:
>
> 1) I bought a universal replacement boot from a local
> FLAPS. Is the the replacement a PITA - and is there a
> way to do this that won't require an alignment when
> I'm all done?
>
> Anybody ever replace a seal on a PWR steering rack -
> or will I be getting a new one after I get sick of
> feeding dexron ATF to the reservoir ever few days?
>
> TIA,
>
> bem
>
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