Steering Rack Boots & Bellows

Performing regular vehicle maintenance saves money in the long run by helping to prevent the need for expensive repairs, which are often required because of vehicle neglect. Visual inspections are an important part of maintaining a car or truck, and they’re something that any owner can do and takes very little time. Checking the condition of your tires and the inflation pressure and checking fluid levels can alert you to problems like low tire pressure from picking up a nail or low oil level that could be caused by a leak, so you can avoid becoming stranded with a flat or costly engine repair. Another visual inspection requires getting down on the ground and looking under the vehicle, but it’s well worth the effort. Most modern vehicles have rack & pinion steering, with protective boots at each end of the rack housing. Making sure these boots aren’t cracked or torn, or catching them right away if they are – can prevent the need for an expensive steering gear replacement.

Steering rack boots, also known as steering rack bellows, protect the steering rack and the inner tie rod ends from dirt, moisture and other contaminants. The large end of the boot fits over the rack housing, with the small end wrapping around the inner tie rod end shaft. Steering rack boots are usually secured with clamps. The boot’s accordion-like shape allows it to compress and expand with lateral steering rack movement and move vertically as the suspension reacts to road irregularities. Although some rack boots were at one time made of plastic, today just about all are made from high-grade rubber. However, steering rack boots operate in the harsh undercar environment where they are exposed to dirt, debris, water, snow and road salt, and even the best rubber can tear when impacted or crack due to age and exposure.

When the integrity of the boot is compromised, the same substances mentioned above can then attack the end of the rack and the inner tie rod socket. Power steering racks contain fluid under high pressure and there is a seal at each end of the rack housing to retain this fluid. The seals and the inner tie rod sockets were not designed to be exposed to contaminants and abrasives and they can quickly fail when forced to operate under those conditions, which is why it’s so important to regularly inspect rack boots and replace them before expensive damage is incurred. While rack seals can sometimes be replaced with the rack in the vehicle, seal replacement commonly requires rack removal, and then replacement of the entire rack & pinion assembly is generally recommended. Along with cracks and tears, look for rack boots that are swollen. Rack end seals can fail even when not exposed to dirt, and the rack boots can then become filled with power steering fluid.

No matter what you’re working on, we have the replacement steering rack boots and bellows to restore steering rack protection. We offer steering rack boots and bellows that are manufactured to original equipment specifications, so when repairs are completed you can count on the steering performance your vehicle was designed to deliver. In addition to boots and bellows, we can also supply you with individual clamps as well as boot kits that come complete with clamps, so you get everything needed for the repair.

To replace a rack boot, raise and safely support the vehicle and then remove the wheel. Remove the cotter pin, if equipped, and nut from the outer tie rod end ball stud, then separate the stud from the steering knuckle arm using a tool that won’t damage the dust boot. Mark the position of the outer tie rod end and locknut on the inner tie rod end, then remove the outer tie rod end, counting the number of turns required for removal, and the locknut from the inner tie rod end. Loosen or cut the clamps from the old boot and remove the boot. Slide the boot onto the inner tie rod end shaft and secure it to the rack housing and tie rod with the new clamps. Install the locknut and the outer tie rod end onto the inner tie rod end, threading it on the same number of turns and aligning the marks made during removal. Tighten the locknut. Secure the outer tie rod end ball stud to the steering arm by torqueing the nut to specifications and installing a new cotter pin, if equipped. Install the wheel and lower the vehicle. Marking the position of the outer tie rod end and counting the number of turns will get the toe setting close, but a complete wheel alignment is recommended.