Removing and installing boot — VW

🧭 Before you start

With the steering straight ahead, remove the wheel, clean the rack area and mark the lock nut on the track rod. Loosen the nut, release the clamps, pull the boot off, then unscrew the track rod from the ball joint and slide the boot off. Inspect the rack, fit the new clamps and boot, screw the track rod back to the mark and tighten the lock nut while counterholding. Seat the boot, clamp it, then check wheel alignment, adapt the steering angle sender G85 and carry out the steering basic setting.

Fits: platform code 138

• Renewed: complete steering rack

Don't miss

• Mark the lock nut position before loosening so toe stays close until alignment.
• Renew the whole rack if it is corroded, worn, dirty or has no grease film.
• Do not grease the steering rack itself; grease only the boot sealing points.
• Counterhold the ball joint when tightening the lock nut.
• Finish with wheel alignment, G85 adaptation and steering basic setting.

Written for this job from the workshop steps below · TorqFix editorial.

📋 Procedure

1. Turn steering wheel to straight-ahead position.
2. Remove wheel.
3. Clean outside of steering rack in vicinity of boot.
4. Mark position of nut (arrow 3) on track rod.
5. Loosen nut (arrow 3), counterholding on track rod ball joint (arrow 2).

6. Loosen spring-type clamp (arrow 1) on boot using hose clip pliersV.A.G 1275 and push onto track rod.
7. Remove clamps.
8. Pull bellows off steering rack housing.
9. Turn track rod out of track rod ball joint.
10. Pull boot with spring-type clip off track rod. [Note: If the steering rack shows signs of corrosion, damage, wear or soiling, renew the complete steering rack.Likewise, if there is no film of grease on the steering rack, the steering rack must be renewed.]
11. ⚠ Do not grease steering rack. — Turn steering wheel to straight-ahead position.
12. Thread new clamps and rubber boot onto track rod.
13. Screw in track rod up to mark made during removal.
14. Tighten lock nut (arrow 3) to specified torque while counterholding track rod ball joint (2).
15. Lightly lubricate seal point between boot and track rod with greaseG 052 168 A1 (from repair kit Fuchs Renolit JP1619).
16. Push rubber boot (2) onto track rod (1) as shown in figure.
17. Secure spring-type clip on rubber boot using hose clip pliersV.A.G 1275.
18. Lightly lubricate seal point between boot and steering rack with greaseG 052 168 A1 (from repair kit Fuchs Renolit JP1619).
19. Push rubber boot onto steering rack housing to stop.
20. Install new clamp, as shown in figure, with locking pliers for Phaeton steering rackVAS 6199.
21. Check wheel alignment .
22. Adapt steering angle sender G85 using .
23. Carry out basic setting of steering using .

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