Steering Rack Boot Replacement

[mxr662]

Can I simply unscrew the tie rod from the tie rod end to replace the boot. I don't have the tool to remove the tie rod end from the steering knuckle.

Andy

[3Q Jay]

yes, i do it this way every time. get a paint pen and make an indexing stripe, then count turns. it is almost exactly 20, so when you get around 18, then wiggle as you turn, so you know exactly when it comes apart.

[qsiguy]

Sounds pretty easy, happy to hear that since I need to do that to mine as well.

[mxr662]

Yes it was very easy. Thanks 3Q Jay for the tip. My 90 was about 14.5 turns per side.

Also did steering rack insulators. Easy once you figure out how to do it. Remove the 4 bolts that hold the rack in place. Loosen the bolt that clamps the steering u-joint to the steering column. This allows the steering rack to move up enough to slide out the old mounts and slide in the new mounts. Move the rack up and down gently with a pry bar while sliding the mounts around the rack.

Replaced alternator. Tough to get the old one out. Not so bad after that. I did drop the A/C compressor down to get the alternator down.

Before I owned the car the battery leaked rusting the frame and the frame bracket the tension rod connects to. Cleaned that up and painted it.

Replaced upper arm on passenger side front. Very Easy

Awaiting boots and bump stops to go with the tokico blues in the living room.

Thanks for all the posts here that showed me how to do all this.

[AlabamaDan]

Sounds pretty easy, happy to hear that since I need to do that to mine as well.

Ditto. This is on my list of things to do in bringing my Q back. Can you post us a write up or links to other threads you referenced. Right now it's a little intimidating.

[elwesso]

Really its not complicated at all, nothing that would solicit a writeup per se.

Just unscrew the outer tie rod, slide off the old boot, and slide in the new.. I would personally shoot some brake parts cleaner and wipe the piston coming out of the rack to remove all the contaminants from the boots being cracked.

If it were me, I'd do it with a bunch of other stuff and just get an alignment at the end.

[AlabamaDan]

So you don't need a new rack, you can just put on new boots and pack them with grease?

I'm doing struts and stuff in a couple of weeks. I could add this and then go for the lifetime alignment at Big 10.

[AlabamaDan]

Read the FSM and it must be so simple because it's barely mentioned. Hunting season opens Saturday, but I'll look at it Dec 1st.

[elwesso]

i dont think youre supposed to pack the boots with grease...

[AlabamaDan]

i dont think youre supposed to pack the boots with grease...

Agreed. Just lube the joints then put the boots on. Now here's a valid question...OEM or aftermarket?

[elwesso]

For the boots? just get OEM from joe theyre not expensive.

[AlabamaDan]

For the boots? just get OEM from joe theyre not expensive.

Just under $40. Done.

I also own a Jeep, which they say means Just Empty Every Pocket. Seems to be the same for the Q.

[3Q Jay]

For the boots? just get OEM from joe theyre not expensive.

i second that.on black the po had a lot of work done at her local infiniti dealer. unfortunately, they didn't always use oem parts, such is the case with the rack boots. ds was replaced with genuine nissan. looks fine. ps was replace with who knows--the narrow end is already split (less than 18 mos and about 12k!).

Andy, glad to hear it worked for you---i was sure off on your thread count though!

[mxr662]

After struts are done it will go to an alignment shop.

[AlabamaDan]

Just a final update, it was super simple. I just unbolted it from the knuckle, unscrewed it and counted the turns, cleaned the old dirty grease off, put new nice red grease on everything, and reinstalled new OEM boots and put the tie rod ends back. Still drives straight as an arrow, but I'll get an alignment anyway.

I was happy to see that despite the torn boots there was lots of grease on the joints and appeared to be no damage.

Wes was right. So simple that it doesn't need a write up. Just be careful taking taking things apart.

[qsiguy]

So once you loosen up the retaining nut on the knuckle the whole steering shaft spins to unscrew it?

My boots are sitting with the other 100 or so replacement parts waiting to go on the Q when I get time.

[AlabamaDan]

I just loosened up the nut that holds the tie rod end to the spindle/knuckle thing. There's a carter key that has to be removed first. I was lucky that mine didn't break or anything so I could reuse them. If I'd had new ones I'd have spent the 10 cents to replace them.

For a quy who can build that turbo, this will be cake.

[mxr662]

I just loosened up the nut that holds the tie rod end to the spindle/knuckle thing.

I did not remove the tie rod end from the steering knuckle. I just unscrewed the rod from the tie rod end.