Had the wonderful chore of replacing the starter last night. While doing that I noticed that the boot that covers the knuckle of the intermediate shaft to rack & pinion was split open.

Not wanting to mess with the steering (and I have a cold...while it is cold outside), I called firestone up to quote the work. They don't have the labor effort in their computer so they couldn't quote me. Guy stated that the joints should be sealed so not a big deal. I'm thinking it is since it was on there in the first place.

anyone else run across this?

 

I'm not 100% on this but can't you just replace the boot? If so it's really easy.. Just unbolt the steering shaft from the rack and put a new one on. I swapped out my rack this summer do to a boot coming off the rack at the inner tie rod, which caused dirt to get in there and the rack to leak... I would replace that boot asap before dirt finds it's way in there and messes the rack up. It's honestly a pretty quick job to replace that boot.. And if you're able to change a starter then the boot on the steering shaft shouldn't be a problem..

 

That's all assuming that you're talking about the boot right at the rack where the steering shaft connects.

 

yeah that's the one. I'm just nervous of mucking up the steering on my daily. I've watched a few youtube vids of a rack&pinion removal and they say you get to it through the front with a swivel and extensions. I don't have a garage to do this in, or a weekend for a few weeks. Just not happy about sitting out in the cold. grumble...grumble.

I was trying to find the boot online. Rockauto has a boot, but I'm thinking that is for the inner tie rods, not the steering shaft. I called my local dealership and they can't find the part in their system; they are thinking it comes as part of the steering shaft assembly.

 

Well, Friday I stopped in the dealership and talked to the parts & service guys. We had a fun time with this. As best we could figure, the boot is part of the lower steering shaft and is not sold individually. Evidently, newer trucks do not have this boot, so it must not be too important. three of the guys behind the counter thought it'd probably be fine to buy a boot, cut it down the side, and zip tie it over the broken boot (slit facing down) to keep snow/grit from getting in there.

Obligatory pic:
https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resi...Ta4F4sI3GE&v=3