Xantia Steering Gaiter Help!!

gbsmiley · Post by **gbsmiley** » 21 Apr 2006, 21:38

Need to change steering rack gaiter (nearside).Asked Citroen specialist locally & he said RAM has to be disconnected first.
Do I have to take the RACK off ?, as the Torx bolt on o/s part of RAM is virtually inaccessible with kit I have to hand as there are so many things in the way.
Tearing my hair out here;all replies grattefully appreciated.

regards,
gbsmiley

andmcit · Post by **andmcit** » 21 Apr 2006, 21:46

gbsmiley wrote:Need to change steering rack gaiter (nearside).Asked Citroen specialist locally & he said RAM has to be disconnected first.
Do I have to take the RACK off ?, as the Torx bolt on o/s part of RAM is virtually inaccessible with kit I have to hand as there are so many things in the way.
Tearing my hair out here;all replies grattefully appreciated.

regards,
gbsmiley

Sounds like total bollocks!

All that needs undoing is the track rod end from the hub then feed the new gaiter on! If you can help it try not to disturb the trackroad etc. The only real sod is actually plopping the inboard end onto the rack as the access isn't brilliant but BY NO MEANS REQUIRING RACK REMOVAL!!

This job was actually the first EVER thing I ever had to to fix an a Xantia and I'm still buying the bloody things 3 years on so I guess I must like them!!

All the best, Andrew

gbsmiley · Post by **gbsmiley** » 21 Apr 2006, 21:55

@andrew
Thanx for reply m8,but it's not bollocks I'm afraid.
If it was offside gaiter, you would be completely right, but nearside the RAM connection to the RACK is in the way.

regards,
gbsmiley

andmcit · Post by **andmcit** » 21 Apr 2006, 22:03

gbsmiley wrote:@andrew
Thanx for reply m8,but it's not bollocks I'm afraid.
If it was offside gaiter, you would be completely right, but nearside the RAM connection to the RACK is in the way.

regards,
gbsmiley

Ok, guess which side I did!

I can't see how the boot can't still be coerced back into the rack after feeding it over the track rod end still. I DO realise there's little room in this area of a Xantia too...

Must admit I'd have to have a gander at mine to confirm just exactly how much of a bitch it'd be on the nearside. Does still seem bollocks to have the rack undone do get a new gaiter on it...

Andrew

andmcit · Post by **andmcit** » 21 Apr 2006, 22:11

Come to think of it, I do recall using a looooong slim screwdriver to help the gaiter onto the rack when I did do the offside...

I guess you could do what people used to do with Cit Gs's when this kind of thing happened - scrap it!!

Andrew

deian · Post by **deian** » 21 Apr 2006, 22:50

Words of wisdom there 8)

andmcit · Post by **andmcit** » 21 Apr 2006, 23:07

One of the rarest cars around these days!! Actually it wasn't always the steering gaiters - front exhaust pipes were it's achillies heel and they were designed in such a way as to be total b'stards...

Mind if you've not extracted the full 1222cc round the twisties chewing the backsides off Gti's etc, you've missed out BIG TIME! 8)

Andrew

Post by **RichardW** » 24 Apr 2006, 11:06

Yes, you'll need to disconnect the ram. I think the bolt will be v tight, but on full right lock, you might be able to access it through the LH wheel arch. Even when you've got it disconnected, the stud on the rack sticks out, and is somewhat larger than the hole in the gaiter. Cue lots of stretching and swearing to force the gaiter over the stud. You might be able to get a stretchy type boot from a factors. The official workshop procedure is to remove the rack, dismantle it, fit the new boot from the other side, reassamble, refit the rack. The boot is almost the first thing to get fitted when the rack is built

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Xantia Steering Gaiter Help!!

Xantia Steering Gaiter Help!!

Re: Xantia Steering Gaiter Help!!