Steering Gaitor Replacement. Help with the "trick"

[Ainsley]

Plain old spit works well.

[aerobod - near CYYC]

I’ve had plated bolts corrode before when using washing-up liquid to ease rubber installation, sodium chloride and citric acid are some of the common ingredients in it. I usually use a rubber lubricant.

[Jonathan Kay]

13 minutes ago, aerobod - near CYYC said:

I’ve had plated bolts corrode before when using washing-up liquid to ease rubber installation, sodium chloride and citric acid are some of the common ingredients in it.

Domestic washing-up liquid used to contain a lot of phosphate, and that was one of the reasons for not using it to clean cars. But it was removed from many detergents in order to reduce damage to aquatic environments. I don't know the details.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phosphates_in_detergent

Jonathan

[Phil G]

lift the front end. Release the nut at the TRE and mark it's original position (tape, pen or simply count the number of threads.....anything that remembers your original position).

There are a couple of flats on the rack end of the rod to aid unwinding. Unwind rod until it's free from the TRE and slide off old gaiter. Reverse assemble.

Rubber lube or WB40 is your friend when trying to slide rack end over the casing. It's a pig TBH and a lot of swearing may occur, but it will fit. A second pair of hands can be useful and a small pry-bar to stretch the gaiter.....take care not to pierce rubber!