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steering gear boot replacement[200/85] posted by George on
Sunday, 4 July 1999, at 2:36 p.m.
I'm thinking of takling a steering gear boot replacement in the next couple of days. I have a couple of questions before I start. Do the tie rod outer ends simply unbolt from around the wheel area? If they do, is this how the old boots are slipped off and the new boots slipped on? Will I need to get the car aligned upon completion? I can't figure out if the car has a CAM or Z-F system. Please help. Thanks, George
Re: steering gear boot replacement[200/85] posted by Mike Hale on
Sunday, 4 July 1999, at 4:39 p.m.
1.) To retain alignment settings, take a 22mm wrench and unscrew the locking nut on the steering arm, using another 22mm wrench on the flat spots of the tie rod to counter any turning. Screw the lock nut backward, be careful not to turn the steering arm at all. Take some paint/white out/nail polish and mark the thread at the end of the tie rod.
2.) You have to remove the nut from the tie rod end at wheel. Then you must either tap it with a hammer or use a ball joint separator to remove the tie rod from the wheel assly.
3.) Unscrew the tie rod from the steering arm (make sure you've made your alignment marks as per #1)
4.) Pull boot off...push new one on- but, before you put the new one on, I'd advise cleaning the old grease off the inner tie rod and packing some new grease on it.
Rack ID- Large diameter end= ZF, Small diameter end=Cam
Click here for illustration of rack identification from RPR
5.)After boot is back on, screw the tie rod end back on and match up with alignment mark.
6.) Tighten the lock nut in using the 2 22mm as before mentioned.
7.) Put the tie rod back up in its hole on the wheel assly. and tighten nut
I'd advise replacing the tie rod ends if they are old- If you do this, you'll probably have to have the car aligned as the new tie rod ends' threads start in different spots than the current ones.
Mike Hale
Re: steering gear boot replacement[200/85] posted by Alan Carlo on
Sunday, 4 July 1999, at 11:57 p.m.
George,
You can do this without removing the tie rod end from the steering Knuckle. I did it twice, both sides, on my past 1983-245. Before you take anything apart, clean the nut and threads of the shaft where it bolts into the tie rod end and spray it with some penetrating oil. Before you loosen the nut mark the tie rod and shaft with a small file, in line, or 2 punch marks. Jack up the wheel or side of the car so the wheel is free and unscrew the shaft carefully counting the number of turns, write it down. The wheel will swing out as you unscrew the shaft from the tie rod end. Change the boot. If it is full of fluid it means the seals are leaking and it is rack replacement time. When reassembling, the number of turns you recorded and the marks you put on the shaft and tie rod end will allow you to get it in pretty much the exact position it was before you took it apart making an alignment unnecessary. In the name of safety. Be sure to support the car very well. This is the most important step as they weigh about 2 tons.
Good Luck,
Alan C.
Re: steering gear boot replacement[200/85] posted by Eric winter on
Tuesday, 6 July 1999, at 2:25 p.m.
On my 85, there was a circular lable marked Z-F. If you look at the rack from the front of the car there will be a lable. It may be caked in grease or dirt. I do not know if this is true for all ZF's but it was for mine. Good Luck!