Xantia steering rack boot replacement.

[mirafioriman]

When I got my new trackrod boot for the nearside of my Xantia it came in a set with a pair of rack gaiters too.

As I will have it all apart I was thinking about replacing the N/S rack gaiter at the same time if the rack doesn't have to come off

Is it a difficult job that requires disassembly or can it be done in situe?

[CitroJim]

The O/S is easier than the N/S but both can be done in-situ - just. The N/S is bloody fiddly due to poor access and the N/S is made harder by the ram peg. The new N/S boot needs to be very stretchy to pop over it. Also the ram needs to be moved a tad out of the way and it's mounting bolts are both tight and a bit inaccessible.

Personally, if both gaiters are good I'd leave them. I've replaced three O/S ones now and cuss them every time. To date I've never had to replace an N/S one...

[citronut]

also if the replacement gaiter is thermo plastic rather than rubber the rack will have to be fully dismantled,
because ding the N/S in situe requires the gaiter to be stretched just a tad and some to get it over the ram spigot,

and the thermo plastic one don't stretch at all

regards malcolm

[mirafioriman]

Thanks guys if it is ok (which I think it is) I'll just leave it and keep them in stock as spares just in case

[Stepto1]

Soak in boiling water first (not you, the gaitor). It will stretch easily over the peg.

[mirafioriman]

Well it turns out the boot was split so needed changed.

The job was done by a student at college who did a good job. Getting the boot on was pretty easy the peg wasn't a problem although it was a rubber boot.

The problem is getting it to stay in place. It has on the inner end but every time we tried it on full lock it just slipped off the outer end despite trying a tie wrap and then a jubilee clip to hold it

On the positive front it now has a new n/s track rod, track rod end and droplink and the tracking is now correct after using the laser alignment

The ensuing test drive was a pleasure with the steering now feeling much more positive and the suspension much less rattly over bumps and uneven surfaces.

Even the steering wheel is now straight

[mirafioriman]

Picked up a genuine rack gaiter from my local dealer today. Hope fitting this will sort out the issue.

[mendedit]

Replaced both on my Xantia last year using genuine gaiters without dismantling,
what you need to do is push all the concertina up hard against the spigot and hold,
using two tea spoons like tyre leaver's gently leaver/stretch over the spigot small amount then a little on the opposite
side ( the easier side ) then back the other side again, little by little the gaiter will go on without damage
and return to it's proper shape, it takes time though so be prepaired,
easy if you have the rack off but worth a try with it on first.

[mirafioriman]

The rack won't be coming off I can guarantee that

[mirafioriman]

Finally got around to doing this today

Managed to get the genuine gaitor over the peg without disassembly using a modified large flat bladed screwdriver as a lever. Once I figured out the technique it was dead easy. I did soak it in hot water first but not sure that made much difference to be honest.

It was much easier to fit and after securing with tie wraps at each end it didn't come off again unlike the Euro Car Parts version

Off to get new wiper blades tomorrow and then it's off to get it MOT'd

[mendedit]

Hooray, glad to here it, I didn't use anything to tie the ends because
there wasn't any when I took the old ones off,
I was a bit worried that they would slip back off again but haven't yet
which is getting on for two yrs. ago.
Phew!

[mirafioriman]

Well with tie wraps mine should definitely stay on then

[CitroJim]

The original gaiters have a kind of stiff elastic band (more like a flexible hard plastic ring) on the rack end to prevent them slipping off so maybe you used pukka genuine ones mendedit!

All the after-market ones I've fitted have ty-raps included in the kit and they seem necessary despite the fact fitting them is like wrestling with an eel and trying to persuade it to go somewhere it really doesn't

[Madmechanicdave5]

Hi all,i have a citroen picasso xsara who's nearside steering gaitor has split and failed the mot,my question is,how on earth do you get the new boot over the spigot,and where is best to buy a genuine part as it has to stretch to get it over the spigot,the other side was easy,but the nearside is challenging,and don't want to split a new one getting it on,any one got any pictures of how they did it,i would be most gratefull.

[aerodynamica]

Hi if it's the same as on a Xantia then you've got the end of the pas ram spigot to stretch over and you might have to heat the boot in hot water to stretch it. In the past people have used a kind of stretch funnel thing but i don't know where they got them. I changed the boots on mine when I changed the track rods. When you remove the track rod on the spigot end the boot goes over the spigot a lot easier. I did have the rack out though so that made it easier too..