I have a 3rd Gen 4Runner. While in Moab last month, I tore a hole in (what I've been told is called) my rack boot -- the boot on the steering rod. Jaderunner told me he and Jeff the Marmot have done the same thing.

I spoke with Mike at Off Road Solutions to ask him about the necessity of replacing it, and he told me I should, saying that, otherwise, the possible damage can be anywhere from $800 to $1,000.

So I'm soliciting opinions about this:

1. How critical is it that the boot replaced?

2. Mike said, for him, it's a 1.5 hour job, and then requires re-alignment. I'm wondering if this is something a mechanical novice can attempt (the replacement, not the re-alignment).

3. Jaderunner patched his with shoe goo (sp?). Is that an adequate patch? (Could I just repack the boot myself and then "shoe goo" the hole?)

4. It didn't take me long to tear the boot, so I'm wondering if this is has been a frequent occurrence for others on the board who wheel.

How are you guys doing this? Sticks? Branches? That would explain why it has not happen to me. All those sand paper rocks. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="images/icons/rolleyes.gif" />

You have to actually take it off-road first, Steve. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="images/icons/tongue.gif" /> j/k

I'm not certain if it was a log or rock that I tore mine on. It definitely wasn't anything related to angles or lift or anything like that. It snuggled up to something while off-road.

Yeah, it would seem to be somewhat important to get it fixed, but probably not as important as fixing a CV boot fixed right away.

I ran with the hole unpatched for a while and then tried tape over the hole for a long time. It's still just tape, although it'll be replaced soon by ORS.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">Originally posted by sschaefer3:
<strong>How are you guys doing this? Sticks? Branches? That would explain why it has not happen to me. All those sand paper rocks. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="images/icons/rolleyes.gif" /> </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">Actually, the rocks in Moab do resemble sand paper in that respect.

It is just a dust boot. There is no grease in it like a CV boot. If it is a small hole just rotate the boot so that it faces downward and don't worry about it until you break something else where you will need to remove the tie rod.

I have had a small hole in mine for a very long time.

Gadget

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">Originally posted by Gadget:
<strong>It is just a dust boot. There is no grease in it like a CV boot.

Gadget</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">Do you know what sort of part(s) it's covering that shouldn't have dust in them? I know I've seen boots on shock absorbers where it really wasn't necessary.

<small>[ 08 July 2002, 04:00 PM: Message edited by: Aurora Sandman ]</small>

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">Originally posted by Aurora Sandman:
<strong> </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">Originally posted by Gadget:
<strong>It is just a dust boot. There is no grease in it like a CV boot.

Gadget</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">Do you know what sort of part(s) it's covering that shouldn't have dust in them? I know I've seen boots on shock absorbers where it really wasn't necessary.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">The shock absorber is a real good comparson. It is a highly polished crome piston rod that extends and retracts through a high pressure seal just like a shock rod. The less dirt and crud on it the better, but I doubt it will be a major poblem. Just point the hole down so it won't fill up with water and crap. I would not panic about it, I haven't.

I am off to the UPS counter to ship back the useless box of stuff JT sent me that has to be returned so that the needed parts can be properly fitted and machined. I just don't understand why it takes 8 months to fill my order when he has had my money the whole time.....

Gadget

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">Originally posted by Gadget:
<strong>The shock absorber is a real good comparson. It is a highly polished crome piston rod that extends and retracts through a high pressure seal just like a shock rod.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">Ben at Off Road Solutions told me it's a ball joint. (Hmmm. I wonder if he knows what he's talking about. The piston design sounds more plausable.) He said it does have grease on it, but nothing like the amount on a CV joint. He metioned that, doing serious wheeling, it might be more likely I break the rack before it has a chance to wear out. (Not a scenario I desire.)

I think I might just see if I can take the clip off and pull back the boot and see how it looks inside. If it looks relatively clean, (which I expect), I'll just put it back on and try "shoe gooing" it closed like Jaderunner did.

<small>[ 08 July 2002, 06:41 PM: Message edited by: Aurora Sandman ]</small>

Here is a awfull picture of what is underneath your rack boot:

<img src="http://www.toyotaoffroad.net/afertig/posts/rack2.jpg" alt="" />

Kind of like a ball and socket joint.

Sorry for the terrible picture quality. I lost all the pictures I had and the only one I could find was a lousy thumbnail.

How bad is the tear? I'd try to stitch it up somehow, and maybe seal it with some silicone or glue or something. If its beyond that, have it fixed if you get the underside of your runner coated in mud or dirt.

<small>[ 08 July 2002, 10:15 PM: Message edited by: Adam F ]</small>