Steering rack gaiter quality

Post by **winger300** » Thu May 07, 2009 5:42 pm

Hello all,

I replaced some split steering rack gaiters about a year ago with new ones from a reputable supplier (no names), but in such a short time they have split already!

Both sides have become really soft and have just perished. I've used standard EP90 oil in the rack, not overfilled.

How long should these things last? It's really not a job that I want to be doing every year! The car has had very little use this year also. Are there some higher quality gaiters available from anywhere?

Post by **alex_holden** » Thu May 07, 2009 5:45 pm

The same thing happened to me.

Post by **winger300** » Thu May 07, 2009 5:57 pm

doesn't fill me with confidence to order new ones.

Are there any other cars with the same type of gaiter?

Post by **alex_holden** » Thu May 07, 2009 7:00 pm

I think classic Minis might be, and maybe Spridgets?

Post by **Dean** » Thu May 07, 2009 7:11 pm

oh dear... just fitted new ones to mine.. bit of a pig to fit too!!!

Post by **winger300** » Thu May 07, 2009 7:13 pm

are they likely to be of better quality?

I was wondering if there was something more modern.

Does anyone have the dimensions handy?

Post by **alex_holden** » Thu May 07, 2009 7:18 pm

Dean wrote:oh dear... just fitted new ones to mine.. bit of a pig to fit too!!!

Roger Rust gave me a NOS one and it was much easier to fit than the new ones because the rubber easily stretched over the end of the rack. Wish I could find some more like that...

Post by **bmcecosse** » Thu May 07, 2009 8:52 pm

And use grease in the rack -not EP90!
But it's the same old story - the parts being sold now are just not fit for purpose. I would take it up with the supplier - and never buy from them again!

Post by **winger300** » Thu May 07, 2009 9:08 pm

Yes, grease might be better.

The problem is I think that all the suppliers are selling the same product. I'd like to be proved wrong though, if anyone can recommend a good supplier for high quality gaiters?

Post by **Declan_Burns** » Thu May 07, 2009 9:31 pm

If it seems to be a quality problem I could talk to one of our suppliers. We actually use zipped vitron gaiters on the hydraulics of our (absolutely huge up to 1000t/h) vertical roller mills, as a dust protection although somewhat on a larger scale as opposed to steering racks. The idea would work perfectly on a grease filled rack as BMC suggests.
http://www.loesche.com/en/products/default.asp
Perhaps they could supply someting on a smaller scale. I'll have a chat with the guys in the design dept. tomoroow. Let me work on it -but no promises!

Post by **bmcecosse** » Thu May 07, 2009 9:51 pm

Yes - I have used similar industrial gaiters at work in the past - they are built to last!

Post by **alainmoran** » Fri May 08, 2009 1:34 am

I have had the same problem, however I bought generic gaiters from a local motor-factor ... what you are saying doesn't fill me with any confidence about buying a set from a minor supplier ... I'll start hunting for 'vitron' gaiters now, since although the ones I have arent split yet they are pretty much perished after a year of being sat on a non-moving car while I finish up the restoration.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Fri May 08, 2009 9:52 am

That will be 'viton' - not vitRon !

Post by **Leo** » Fri May 08, 2009 10:10 am

We have a 1967 Mk 1 Mini which still has one original CV Joint rubber boot which shows no sign of deteriorating after over 40 years.
Just proves that it is possible to manufacture quality items.

Also noticed that the steering rack gaiters supplied for MGB's seem much shorter than the originals and stretch to their maximum causing early failure

Post by **winger300** » Fri May 08, 2009 10:27 am

How about these?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Steering-Rack-Gai ... dZViewItem

Post by **Declan_Burns** » Fri May 08, 2009 10:36 am

The company who make our gaiters is
http://www.moellergroup.com/index.php?id=1125&L=1
Download the second brochure. The zipped gaiters are shown on page 17.
I will see if I can get hold of a contact person.
Can sombody measure the minor gaiter? I don't have a spare one here.

Post by **winger300** » Fri May 08, 2009 11:51 am

Zip fastening.. i couldn't quite see in the brochure, are they zipped along the length? so the track-rod-ends don't need to be taken off! That would be great!

Post by **Declan_Burns** » Fri May 08, 2009 12:35 pm

Winger,
Yes they are zipped along the length. We use them on our hydraulics. That's the whole idea-replacement without the hassle with removing the track-rod-ends. Perhaps some moggy supplier would be interested in having a batch made or maybe they are available in the right size off the shelf but that might be optimistic thinking on my behalf.

Post by **winger300** » Mon Jun 29, 2009 6:44 pm

any news on these gaiters?

I've still not replaced my perished gaiters, and really don't want to tackle the job until I can find some reasonable quality parts.

Post by **alex_holden** » Mon Jun 29, 2009 8:16 pm

I managed to find a single NOS gaiter on a stall at the National. The rubber feels twice as thick as the new ones!

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