Rack and Pinion Bellow / Boot Slipping off Steering Rack

[RescuerRam3]

I can’t get the rack and pinion bellow (boot) to stay attached to the steering rack. The bellow, or boot, keeps pulling off when I turn the steering wheel all the way to one direction. Same result on both sides. I tried using ear style hose clamps and then tried zip ties. No luck either way. Even when looking at it, it seems physically impossible that the bellow can stretch that far. Not designed too. Almost like my steering rack extends too far out when the steering wheel is turned all the way to the left or right. I am running into this issue after a DIY replacement of inner and outer tie rods and using new rack and pinion bellow.

Details:

2013 XC70 T6
VIN: YV4902BX5D1149063
Outer Tie Rods: FVP TO45091 (OEM Part #31302344) and FVP TO45092 (OEM Part #31302345)
Inner Tie Rods: Lemforde 31451035 (OEM Part #31451035) for vehicles without a speed dependent/sensitive steering rack or without fully electric steering
Rack and Pinion Bellow: Lemforde 30776251

According to the dealer, my vehicle has electrohydraulic steering, not speed dependent/sensitive. They claim that the correct inner and out tie rods have been used by me for installation. However, they state that the Rack and Pinion Bellow should be part number 30776252, not the 30776251 currently on the vehicle. Now to the common observer, that would explain the issue of the rack and pinion bellow not staying on the steering rack. HOWEVER, the “correct” bellow is actually SHORTER than the bellow currently installed and that is too short. I don’t see how replacing the current bellow with the “correct” bellow doesn’t make the issue even worse.

Is my steering rack somehow out of whack/overextended?

[scot850]

Have you checked the rack is not loose or any brackets mounting it cracked or broken?

Neil.

[RescuerRam3]

Have you checked the rack is not loose or any brackets mounting it cracked or broken?

Neil.

Nope. All of that was good. Turns out I simply couldn't get it tight enough while car was on jack stands. Not enough room to tighten/get leverage. I had to go to a mechanic who put car on lift and was able to tighten enough. And I kept the wrong boot on which seems to do just fine. Problem solved.

[scot850]

Thanks for the update and letting us know all is now good! Glad you found the solution.

Neil.