Rubber boot on steering collumn split?

1. AL3X_ Established Member Joined: May 2010 Posts: 1434

   #1 1st September 2011, 18:20

   When I was fitting a new roll pin today I found this:
   
   
   A bit of a shit pic but the boot in the pic has perished at one end and dropped off, I trimmed the tatty bit off, put a bit of lithium grease inside, popped it back on and cable tied it as best I could, somehow I don't think it will stand the test of time, so is it extremely important that its there, if so what is it for/called and is it hard to change...I can imagine it being a bastard as it was more fiddly re attaching it than fitting the roll pin
2. user_20080 Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.

   #2 1st September 2011, 18:38

   It`s a steering rack gaiter(I believe it)stops the grease from coming out so quite important & probs an MOT failure in that condition.
3. user_36198 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Aug 2009 ilkeston derbyshire Posts: 9823 C2 VTR stripped, 406hdi, clio 172

   #3 1st September 2011, 18:43

   yep, rack gaitor, MOT fail point, complete gaitor kit approx 12 quid plus postage
4. Tontsy Saxperience Addict Joined: Oct 2008 Plymouth, Fiddling - under a two poster ramp Posts: 14064 Audi

   #4 1st September 2011, 18:48

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by mandyslover70 yep, rack gaitor, MOT fail point, complete gaitor kit approx 12 quid plus postage

   i did one the other day, charged em £65 quid suplied and fitted lol... i made a tidy profit on a 10 minute job.
5. AL3X_ Established Member Joined: May 2010 Posts: 1434

   #5 1st September 2011, 19:24

   ah shit I can't believe its done that....i was only in the bay the other day and didn't notice it.
   
   Is it safe to drive for now?
   
   Tonto...how hard is it to fit one? It looked like it would be a fiddly job to me?
6. user_36198 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Aug 2009 ilkeston derbyshire Posts: 9823 C2 VTR stripped, 406hdi, clio 172

   #6 1st September 2011, 19:30

   safe enough but needs doing. Easy enough job to replace tbh
7. blackie_2k5 Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Oct 2008 Birtley Posts: 22253 VTR Turbo, 106 xsi track slag, Transit recovery, B

   #7 1st September 2011, 19:42

   as said not that hard, no immeditate but would pay you really to replace, as stops shit getting in and ruining your ram seals on the rack (much harder job)
8. Tontsy Saxperience Addict Joined: Oct 2008 Plymouth, Fiddling - under a two poster ramp Posts: 14064 Audi

   #8 1st September 2011, 19:45

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by AL3X_ ah shit I can't believe its done that....i was only in the bay the other day and didn't notice it. Is it safe to drive for now? Tonto...how hard is it to fit one? It looked like it would be a fiddly job to me?

   in the top right of your pic, under the hose there is a T55 (i think) bolt. undo that and i then turn the wheel in or out al the way to move the rack, as now the steering wheel is dissconnected lol.
   
   the rack will slide out of the clap and just slide the old boot off, new boot on and secure.
   
   twist wheels back, there is a cut out on the rack, which the bolt has to line up with, it wont go in if its not lined up - so there is no worry about getting it wrong.
   
   tighten bolt
   
   sorted.
9. AL3X_ Established Member Joined: May 2010 Posts: 1434

   #9 1st September 2011, 19:50

   ill get the bits and do it tomorrow then, could anyone give a brief explanation of how to do it, and does the tracking need setting afterwards?
   
   Cheers
10. AL3X_ Established Member Joined: May 2010 Posts: 1434

    #10 1st September 2011, 19:54

    sorry didnt see that reply mate, ah so it should be quite easy to do myself...does the tracking need setting after?
    
    Cheers man
11. user_36198 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Aug 2009 ilkeston derbyshire Posts: 9823 C2 VTR stripped, 406hdi, clio 172

    #11 1st September 2011, 19:55

    undo the torx bolt and slide the knuckle joint off the end of the rack, remove gaitor and fit new one, refit bolt. Tracking isn't affected
12. AL3X_ Established Member Joined: May 2010 Posts: 1434

    #12 1st September 2011, 20:00

    Ah right...the only thing i cant work out is which bolt? Theres a few large torx bolts holding the rack is it just one i need to take off?
13. user_20080 Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.

    #13 1st September 2011, 20:07

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by AL3X_ Ah right...the only thing i cant work out is which bolt? Theres a few large torx bolts holding the rack is it just one i need to take off?

    In your pic do you see where those thin yellow lines are?It`s the 1 directly below that big hose mate.
14. dolby20 Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Mar 2011 Esholt - West Yorkshire Posts: 3113 Citroen Saxo VTR 2002

    #14 1st September 2011, 20:19

    Identical problem to mine!
    But I can't get that bloody Torx bolt undone
    It's a TX55 but i can't undo it :@
15. Tontsy Saxperience Addict Joined: Oct 2008 Plymouth, Fiddling - under a two poster ramp Posts: 14064 Audi

    #15 1st September 2011, 20:21

    that bolt may be stiff, but abit of elbow grease will get it off! it just needs cracking, after that you can use your fingers.
    
    i find using a 1/2" ratchet, and some sort of extension piping on the end of the ratchet for extra leverage works a treat
16. dolby20 Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Mar 2011 Esholt - West Yorkshire Posts: 3113 Citroen Saxo VTR 2002

    #16 1st September 2011, 20:24

    That's the setup i use
    Maybe I just need some spinach
    
    I'll have another bash at it and hope for the best!!
17. AL3X_ Established Member Joined: May 2010 Posts: 1434

    #17 1st September 2011, 20:47

    Ah yeh i think i've seen it, cheers .ads
    
    one thing...when i was trying to put the old gaitor in place...i loosened 3 of the torx bolts holding the raact to the firewall(to the left of my knackered gaitor, one below one above, the other is near the drivers wheel arch) i just loosened them so i could fit my fingers behind the rack and put the gaitor on...this shouldnt have affected the tracking should it as I didn't alter the track rods?
18. AL3X_ Established Member Joined: May 2010 Posts: 1434

    #18 2nd September 2011, 10:32

    right, ive just rung two different motor factors, after asking for a steering rack gaitor they both said they should come as a pair, one said monday for it the other one said they had a universal kit in stock which would fit...i cant see their being two of these on the car though have they got the wrong part?
19. AL3X_ Established Member Joined: May 2010 Posts: 1434

    #19 2nd September 2011, 12:08

    right, ive just rung two different motor factors, after asking for a steering rack gaitor they both said they should come as a pair, one said monday for it the other one said they had a universal kit in stock which would fit...i cant see their being two of these on the car though have they got the wrong part?
20. dolby20 Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Mar 2011 Esholt - West Yorkshire Posts: 3113 Citroen Saxo VTR 2002

    #20 2nd September 2011, 12:46

    Buy it from mandyslover, I did, every part was fine!
    Exactly what I needed
21. AL3X_ Established Member Joined: May 2010 Posts: 1434

    #21 2nd September 2011, 18:57

    Ah do you sell them Jason? I thought you just meant thats a rough price for them.
    
    I got one today anyway, I went down to check out the semi universal one Motaquip had in stock...by two he meant with them being universal they came as a pack of two which means I can send someone else one or keep it for next time, cost me just over £7 for the pair which was good. With it being semi universal I expected it to be a shit fit but this one seems good, its a bit longer than the old one but this just means when the rack is fully stretched out the boot isn't under stress like the old one was. Its also made of a more flexible thick rubber than the old tough plasticcy one, so hopefully it wioll last longer.
    
    The only thing is with it not being a specific one for this model it didn't come with the little blocked up boot which sticks out of the drivers arch...to the left of this pic:
    
    
    I assume this comes with specific kit and is what the other motor factor referred to as the one for the opposite side? No bother though my original one is still intact, i'll just keep an eye on it.
22. user_36198 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Aug 2009 ilkeston derbyshire Posts: 9823 C2 VTR stripped, 406hdi, clio 172

    #22 2nd September 2011, 19:00

    the universal ones are no good at all for saxo/106 racks as they have specific mountings where the bolt passes through, always selling them as most motor factors try and fob you off with universal tosh
23. dolby20 Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Mar 2011 Esholt - West Yorkshire Posts: 3113 Citroen Saxo VTR 2002

    #23 2nd September 2011, 21:23

    Yep mandyslover sells the whole lot!
24. user_38615 Established Member Joined: Oct 2009 Birmingham Posts: 2073 Current - 56 1.9 astra Sri Owned - 54 C2 GT. Ow

    #24 2nd September 2011, 21:53

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by AL3X_

    atleast yours is still there....
    
    I was doing some work on mine other day, I noticed that I ain't got the gaitor at all is just a shiny piece of metal there
    
    best place to get one of these from??
25. AL3X_ Established Member Joined: May 2010 Posts: 1434

    #25 3rd September 2011, 01:55

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by mandyslover70 the universal ones are no good at all for saxo/106 racks as they have specific mountings where the bolt passes through, always selling them as most motor factors try and fob you off with universal tosh

    
    how do you mean mate? My 'duraboot' one which was described as semi universal as its listed for the saxo on their system but has a few cuttable knotches to fit a wide range of cars fits perfectly fine, seems to be better than the old one?...well for this side it does...it wouldnt fit that other capped boot i posted a pic of. What do you mean about the bolts and what problem does this cause?
    
    @Gazer...the guy i've quoted sells them if you can wait for delivery...or a motor factors, citroen...or I have a spare but its one of these universal ones...seems fine on mine though?