98 s70 steer rack boot

Post by **mecheng** » 15 Jun 2014, 14:52

I was under my car and I noticed the boot for the steering rack purged grease on the passenger side, upon squeezing the boot I found a small hole. To replace the boot do I just loosen the tie rod and slide on new boot? What grease should I use? Can you buy the boot from Volvo?
The boot is the one adjacent to the outer tie rod. Thanks

Post by **jreed** » 15 Jun 2014, 15:36

Yes, I think you have to pop the outer tie rod end out, unscrew it (while counting the turns or marking its position so you can return it) and remove the old boot.
I wrote up a full 'illustrated' guide here for my '97 855:
https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... =1&t=58194
You can buy the boot from Volvo. I don't think any grease is required.

Post by **mecheng** » 15 Jun 2014, 15:58

My outer rod is fine do I have to pop the ball joint or can I just loosen the outer tie rod?
I noticed you did not add grease, I thought this boot keeps the grease sealed?
Thanks, nice write up

Post by **jreed** » 15 Jun 2014, 16:30

If my memory serves correctly, you have to pop out the outer tie rod in order to be able to unscrew it from the inner tie rod end. I think the boot is there to keep dust and water off of the steering rack mechanism primarily. I don't think you're supposed to put any grease inside it.

You know, if all you've got is a small hole in the steering rack boot, maybe you could make an effective repair with some of the self-fusing silicone tape. It's great stuff for repairing holes and cracks in plastic and rubber parts. There is some risk: You'd probably have to keep monitoring the boot over time to make sure the silicone tape was still in place, and there might already be water or dirt inside the boot that will eventually damage the power steering rack seals and lead to a more expensive repair later...

Post by **mecheng** » 15 Jun 2014, 16:49

Actually because the parts stores are closed I did just that. I squirted some oil in the hole, cleaned the outside and they used some rtv silicon sealant I had hanging around. I was also able to loosen my o2 sensor, score 1 for a o2 sensor socket, the closed box end wrench I modified with a slot looks excellent in theory but the socket is a brute and work perfectly

Post by **cn90** » 15 Jun 2014, 20:50

- Pop the tierod from the knuckle.
- Loosen the Outer tierod from the Inner tierod
- Replace the boot

Mark everything so you don't have to go to alignment shop...

Post by **mecheng** » 16 Jun 2014, 06:48

Thanks. I will try it soon

Post by **oragex** » 16 Jun 2014, 07:43

mecheng wrote:the boot for the steering rack purged grease

There is no grease inside the steering rack boot, it's a dry boot. If it has a hole in it, the rack shaft gets rusted and ruins the shaft seals, causing fluid to leak and the shaft to be replaced. Check asap and wire brush the rust off the shaft.

Post by **cn90** » 16 Jun 2014, 08:02

I don't have the procedure for the Volvo S70, but when I did my 1998 BMW 528i front suspension overhaul, I outlined the procedure in Step #20.

Basically same idea, whether it is Volvo or BMW...

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showth ... p?t=399580

Post by **erikv11** » 16 Jun 2014, 09:57

oragex wrote:
mecheng wrote:the boot for the steering rack purged grease

There is no grease inside the steering rack boot, it's a dry boot. If it has a hole in it, the rack shaft gets rusted and ruins the shaft seals, causing fluid to leak and the shaft to be replaced. Check asap and wire brush the rust off the shaft.

+1.

That is a dust boot and it should be bone dry inside it. If it isn't, you may want to check if the rack is leaking. A small leak is not a big deal, mind you, but you'll want to be aware of it.