Citroen Xantia 1.8 16V Steering rack Gaiters

[Dolmenman]

A bit of a long thread so bear with me.
As mentioned in a previous thread viewtopic.php?t=86635 I'm going over to France in a couple of weeks and am going to replace (I've sourced a second hand one) or reseal the Accumulator/Pressure Regulator on my partner's daughters Xantia (I've bought the seal kit as well).

The last time I looked at the car, I noticed the boot on the steering rack, on the drivers side (it's LHD) has dissolved probably due to the LHM leak. I haven't noticed the other side.

After going through many threads on this forum, the drivers side looks relatively easy (remove track rod end and manipulate over the inner track rod and secure with cable ties or jubilee clips). It doesn't look like the whole rack doesn't need to be removed from the car.

However, the process for replacing the passenger side gaiter looks far more complicated. Is it possible to do without removing the rack?
It seems to involve depressurising the hydraulic system, removing outer track rod. Then removing a dust cover over the end of the inner track rod and removing the inner track rod.
Then I'd have to remove the pipes to the assistance ram. removing an 18mm nut attached to an ugly lug/bolt sticking out of the rack. Then removing a 55mm torx from the other end of the ram to get the end of the ram off the lug /attachment bolt.
This would allow me to (after heating the boot in boiling water) slide the boot over the lug and then onto the steering rack (it seems to be tricky?), then replacing the inner track rod and put a new small boot cover over the ball joint that attaches to the rack?
The Haynes manual is useless. Have I missed something? I'd be grateful for any advice before I start this and have I missed anything? TIA

PS, the handbrake seem to be coming up very high but as the pads were replaced two years ago, could it be the cables?

[Stickyfinger]

The job presents a number of problems.....(the process is as you describe, in theory)

1. OEM spec "plastic" boot will NOT stretch over the lug post for the ram
2. Aftermarket "stretch boots" might (I have done it once but there were two of us and 4 levers !) the next time I tried on my own I failed totally
3. OEM spec boots engage in a U shaped grove on the rack end using a moulded ridge on the inside of the boot "mouth". You then have major difficulty getting a suitable strap on to hold it in place, metal is needed, cable ties WILL come off.
4. Aftermarket boots do not have the inner ridge and WILL slip off quickly.

The last one I did was on a very simple early 1.9td without anti-sink etc....I took the rack off.
I used an after market boot set but made double wrapped thick copper wire ligatures to retain the boot over "split rings" I made to fit into and protrude above the grove on the rack end, this has worked so far.


You will have struggles with the heat shield (get it in first, tucked up tight to the exhaust or it is a pain !..it was for me )
Long spanners are a pain, get a set of stubby ones to avoid the 1/20th of a turn game.
Inset the main pressure pipe into the ram body first when refitting as the return one gets in the way a bit when tightening and is hard to insert into/compress the seal/get the thread started.

[Dolmenman]

Thanks Stickyfinger.
Yep...it sounds a real pain to do...probably best to take the rack out then, but don't like the sound of the heat shield business...as a matter of interest, if the OEM one won't stretch over the lug, how on earth do Citroen dealers do it? Surely a split gaiter doesn't mean a replacement steering rack?

[Stickyfinger]

Yes, they take it out......all because they used a cast on post rather than a screw in stud

Heat shield tucks up with a fiddle or two or 6

[Dolmenman]

Thanks...seems a foolish design..

[Stickyfinger]

= Citroen/French/it is bloody la daft