cagranitz Posted July 11, 2009 Share Posted July 11, 2009 2000 Outback Wagon, auto trans, EJ251 engine, 130,000 miles. The passenger side steering rack boot is torn and the drivers side boot looks like it's about to tear. I am planning to replace both boots. It appears to me that I should be able to replace the boots without having to remove the outer tie rod end from the steering knuckle by simply threading the tie rod out of the tie rod end (of course only after carefully marking the threads and counting turns during removal). Is this correct ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gloyale Posted July 11, 2009 Share Posted July 11, 2009 You are correct. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EVOthis Posted July 11, 2009 Share Posted July 11, 2009 Wow! I learned something new..I never knew this could be done....Ive always disconnected the outer tie rod from the knuckle..thanks for the tip fellas... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cagranitz Posted July 11, 2009 Author Share Posted July 11, 2009 I ordered the replacement boots this afternoon and should be installing some night this week or next weekend. I'll post after the repair is complete. Thanks ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cagranitz Posted July 22, 2009 Author Share Posted July 22, 2009 Steering rack boot replacement is complete. It was fairly simple. Got everything back together and did not require an alignment. I would say the most difficult part was getting the large end of the new drivers side boot into the groove in the steering rack. There was very little room to work and it was just a tight fit. The passenger side boot went on very easily, but that end of the rack is different for some reason (black metal with a shallow groove for the boot). The driver side end of the rack was a silver cast piece with a much deeper groove for the boot. I'm going to repeat the same process on my 01 OBW. Thanks for the help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idosubaru Posted July 22, 2009 Share Posted July 22, 2009 I would say the most difficult part was getting the large end of the new drivers side boot into the groove in the steering rack. There was very little room to work and it was just a tight fit. ha, no joke. i created a thread just for that reason not too long ago. fought with that thing too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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