Steering boot doesn't go back on?

[nastyleak]

Okay I'm done searching and cutting my hands. The passenger side went on eventually after a sufficient number of bad words. The driver side is an unholy nightmare and the posts I found including this one: http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/newbie-forum/161082-torn-steering-rack-boot.html simply explain the general process. So I've seen the pics and that looks like something that would tear the boot like a sharp fish hook. There has to be a better way to do this. None of the 3 auto parts stores have anything except the pics. How can you possibly get this thing on?

 

[PieEyedPiper]

The driver's side is absolutely the worst. I probably spent an hour on it, like you cussing and cutting up my hands. Boy do I wish I had small hands at times like those.

All I can do, is offer some sympathy and tell you to keep trying. If I recall, I did try to lube up the lip a little bit and instead of those silly metal zip ties, I just went and got some hardcore 100+lbs. test. zip ties. Still good, years later.

 

[nastyleak]

That's funny you used zip ties because these actually came with zip ties. Maybe I'll try to stretch it onto something and make its hole a little bigger.

 

[bmoha7321]

I used a couple nylon plastic tire iron for bicycle tires. Worked like a cinch. They are kinda slippery and mostly flat.

 

[nastyleak]

Okay I got it I borrowed my sons toy bowling pin and stretched it onto that, then let it sit in the sun for 1-2 hours and it went on easily. I would suggest not getting the Raybestos Professional grade steering boot-bellows. These have to be thicker than most which is good now that they are installed but not good for easy installation.