Installing steering rack rubber boot tip

[xirdneh]

Not sure if this has been covered but here goes.
the rubber boots for the power steering rack have been difficult for me to install
i have managed to get them on with a screwdriver but its not easy
the boot has to be stretched while working in a tight area
on the last set i turned the end of the boot inside out and unraveled it right over the rack end
it was so damned easy

[Notmikeb]

REALLY wish I had read this two days ago. Those things are indeed a PITA

[Petros]

that is how I have always done it. I did not know it was not obvious, forcing it straight over looks like a real PIA, and why I rejected that idea right away.

[Notmikeb]

Well now it seems obvious. When I was laying under the car sweating and cursing it didn't. D'oh!

[Petros]

Well now it seems obvious. When I was laying under the car sweating and cursing it didn't. D'oh!

that is not the best way to solve a problem or start in on repair for the first time.

First time I did it I had the car on a jack stand, wheel off, sitting on a small stool staring at the old boot with the new boot in my hand going over the steps in my head before I crawled under the car. By figuring to turn it inside out, it went a lot faster and easier than I had imagined.

when I first started working on cars when I was about 15 years old, I would find my self staring at the parts I was going to remove for many minutes. when I was in a hurry I would get frustrated at this, it seemed i was wasting time starting at parts I already knew what they looked like, and knew what to do with them (I read the repair book and had done similar jobs on other vehicles). I noticed the second and third time I did the same job I did not need to stare at the parts much or at all, everything went smoothly and efficiently. I come to realize this is how my brain processes the steps I have to take, and now I just accept it. So anytime I do something for the first time, I just go with it and allow myself to stare at it as long as I need to. It goes faster with fewer mistakes, and you notice things like this before you crawl under the car.

I find I have to crawl out from under and get up less often to get a different tool or part, most things go smoother, and if necessary it becomes obvious I may have to make a special tool, mount or puller before I start. Rather than figure that out after I have it all apart and find there is no way I will get that part out without the correct tool or puller.