Steering UJ gaitors...
Discussion
...which type/model is best to use?? I've just got back from the local car spares shop with a selection of steering rack end gaitors to use to shield the steering universal joints from road dirt etc being thrown up from the wheels - TVR never fitted covers or gaitors to the UJs, so the joints wear and seize, causing stiff steering eventually. My problem is none of the gaitors will fit well enough to pack with grease - I've done a search on here to see if anyone has used a specific gaitor, but no joy. Anyone know which car their gaitor was from??
I use generic steering rack end gators from a local motorfactors, with zip ties around the ends to more or less seal then to the steering column. It isn't hermetically sealed but it doesn't need to be, it just keeps the dirt and more importantly the radiant heat from the exhaust headers away from the joint. The joint just needs to be lightly greased rather than packed in grease.
Do you know, I was thinking about just the same thing yesterday. My joints are getting stiff (must be my age) and pondered that it would be better to put some kind of gaiter on them. Anything's got to be better than nothing.
Since you'll probably be doing this before me, I would be very interested in your eventual solution and how effective it is.
Since you'll probably be doing this before me, I would be very interested in your eventual solution and how effective it is.
I've ended up using a universal CV boot kit on the uppper UJ against the bulkhead, one which you wrap round the joint then glue together, avoiding dismantling the steering shafts. It's not ideal, but will shield most of whats thrown up from the road wheels, and I've absolutely stuffed it full of the CV grease ('orrible thick black stuff), so the UJ is running in grease and fairly well protected. Not ideal, because its not sealed from the elements, but better than nothing, and easier than dismantling the UJs from their shafts to fit a steering rack gaitor. I'll see how well it holds the grease in, then maybe do the same with the lower UJ as well, although there's more clearance to fit a rack gaitor on the lower one as there's no bulkhead hard up against the joint.
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