Steering column gaiter split

[NiceCupOfTea]

Noticed that the gaiter on one of the steering column knuckles (the one you can see easily through the wheelarch) has a split. According to Steve Heath these didn't have gaiters from the factory, but does anybody know if this will fail the MOT. Don't want to pull it off as obviously a split gaiter is better than no gaiter. Was going to replace with one of this split self adhesive ones but I can only find them for driveshafts with one end open.

Doesn't seem to hard a job but I don't really have time to take the column apart at the moment...

[phillpot]

Non standard, some one has "improvised" to try and protect the joints.



Problem with that is if they don't fit and seal perfectly, which they probably won't if made from old rack gaiters or whatever, they are more likely to hold crud and water in rather than out......imho.

[NiceCupOfTea]

So....

Tear it off? Anything I should lube it with? Just cover it in lithium grease?

[NiceCupOfTea]

MOT tomorrow and of course I have done nothing about this. If it's definitely non standard shall I take it off? Will it fail with a torn boot even though it doesn't need one?

[phillpot]

NiceCupOfTea said:

shall I take it off?

Yes

NiceCupOfTea said:

Will it fail with a torn boot even though it doesn't need one?

Could do, examiner could take the opinion "if it's there it should be in good order" ( he may well not know it's non original)


imho

[greymrj]

I can add a bit to this one for the record too. I fitted a new lower steering joint several years ago. The old one was full of dust and rusty inside and had clearly had a hard time. On the S1 it is even more exposed as we do not have the front wheelarch section. It seemed to me a cover was justified but, as Phillpot pointed out, it had to be effective or it could hold crud in! But how to cover a joint which had a c12mm shaft at either end and flexed. Simple really. Right next to it was the answer; a steering rack gaiter, provided one side of the joint was the same diameter as a steering rack casting, i.e. approx 50mm. Again the answer was so simple. Cut a disc of a suitable material* and place it over the shaft into the rack. It needs to be a tight push fit.

• I used a piece of 10mm aluminium plate which I literally hacksawed to a bit over 50mm dia then finished in a bench drill. A lathe would have made it easier. It would be OK in thick acrylic sheet or even hardwood, phenolic ply or whatever. I 'turned' it with a file to get a lip on it. I then just used a standard generic steering gaiter and held it on at both ends with a couple of turns of copper wire (not enough room for a tie wrap at the disc end)

I just took it off today, just checking as the MOT is soon. It is all bright clean and shiny inside! Perfect! That is one little idea I am confident in sharing as it took so little to do when the steering was off, and has been 100% successful for me.
(Please note that the flash on the picture has made it look as if it is dirty oil in there, it isnt. The light oil is as shiny and clean as it was when I installed it)