legacycentral bbs

Does this require disconnecting rack, realignment?

Alignment, yes, since you need to remove the outer tie rod to slip it on.

Steve

If the boot is torn, I'd suggest finding a used rack, or purchasing a rebuilt rack.

There's no telling how long the rip has been there, or if dirty and gunk has damanged the seals.

Josh has a valid concern. You can put new boots on and you should be okay, but what Josh said is entirely feasible.

I must stress this fact though. Be sure you are NOT leaking fluid from the torn boots. If you are, you have a seal leaking in the rack and putting new boots on will NOT stop the leak. The fluid will just seep into the boots, and slowly fill them up. And have you ever filled up a balloon with water so much that it popped? Yeah, think like that

Just did this on mine.
I suggest a new steering rack if its cheap, but you are probably like me; cheap, which good steering racks are not.
In any case, the boot is simple, just undo the spring on the inner side of each side (its under the flap) and pull away.

An alignment is a good idea, even though you could ghettorig it just by measuring with a caliper, or counting the threads. Measure twice, cut once

the inner tie rod ends wear quickly when the boot tears. Mine had 1/8" free play which could easily be felt as a lack of tracking accuracy, rattling, and following ruts, etc, and sometimesshuddering under braking.

pull and push on the front of the wheel on that side and see if there is free movement of the tie rod, there should not be

as Josh said I found replacing the rack more economical than boots and tie rod ends, noit to mention a lot fresher rack

If you are just changing out the boots you can just dab a bit of paint where the threads begin so after you replace the boots the ends can be screwed back to there orignal place. a alignement would still be a good idea, no matter if you replace the boots or the entire rack....