Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Replacing steering rack gaitors

Good morning, another question for my fellow spanner jugglers, im in the process of replacing my stock radiator on my Roadster with one of Sifabs work of art and i have noticed that my steering rack gaitors are split , it looks like i almost have to disassemble the entire rack to remove the old gators and fit new ones,. am i correct in that assumption and if so what should i be aware of, i dont want to screw up my steering.

Thanks Steve

This job is not too difficult and does not entail disassembly of the rack. Its held in place by two clamps on either side. So long as you don't disturb the track rod ends by screwing them in or out your steering won't be disaligned. Clamp the steering wheel in its straight ahead position first though. While the rack is off its worth taking up any free play by tighening up the adjuster on top. Mine has a tab washer which holds the flats of the nut from unscrewing. I tightened it down just a couple of flats - no more than that.

I would just add that whilst just removing rack clamps to remove and slide on new gaiters, should not effect tracking, it could affect alignment of steering wheel if the rack is not clamped back in exactly the same position.

Note however this gives you the opportunity to correct any assymetry in the full lock positions with regard to tyres rubbing on stays etc. The steering wheel may have to be re-aligned in such circumstances.

Strongly recommend you replace gaiters with the superior after market universal ones from car builder solutions if you have latest type rack.

I did mine a couple of years ago. I raised the car and lowered the front wheels onto ramps so they were fixed in position.
It was then a straight forward job to refit everything without disturbing the tracking. The inner ends of the steering rods were disconnected at the rack end only so no adjustment settings were altered.A watch point is the locking tabs on the bolts in the rack area. The bolts are tightened and the tabs bent down to lock them safely. You can either use a new lock tab or go the lock wire method ( this needs drilling and lockwire pliers for a neat secure fit). I just stuck with the tab method. I think gomog describes the procedure for gaiter renewal.
Just to add, the steering wheel alignment was checked for reassembly.

If memory serves, didn't a company produce split gaiters that could be just wrapped aroung the rack and clipped together thereby negating the need to remove any components.

They certainly used to do them for Land Rover Ball joints, that you had to glue together once fitted.

Think I can see why they are no longer available