Steering Rack Gaiter got torn

[John Gervais]

As the title says, my RH steering rack gaiter parted ways with it's small diameter end, right at the clamp.

I noticed it when I finished fiddling with my caster angles earlier today; must have happened when I twiddled with the suspension settings last Monday, but I normally keep an eye on any eventual twist from turning the steering rod.


Does anyone know of a commonly available alternative to the 'proper' mini part?  Something from Toyota, Fiat Peugeot, Renault, Audi or Volkswagen perhaps?


Maybe someone has experienced this and has tried installing a cable tie to clamp the ragged edge to the steering arm?


I do realize that MSC has gaiters, but I'd really hate to pay the £8.54 shipping and just received multiple packages recently, I really can't think of anything else I need.

[MiniDave]

Just put a zip tie around it till you're ready to place an order for more bits, all it's for is to keep the dirt out not hold lubricants in. Zip tie is plenty good enough for that.....

[John Gervais]

Cool - I'd like to finish this front wheel alignment and test drive it, maybe even take it fishing - haven't been in a while. 

There will be more bits, won't there... 

[jeff10049]

Dave,
I thought mini racks were lubed with 90wt oil or very thin grease for later racks I know my car calls for oil and the boots will certainly leak if torn. The grease or oil is directly exposed to the inside of the boot on early racks are later ones different with seals on the shafts?

Later cars are said to be grease and that's true but the factory grease is like a heavy oil consistency lithium based stuff I have some left from when I serviced my spi car  and it is pourable.


I have read many great debates about oil vs grease in the early cars and it seems oil is a must in mk1 racks due to the felt bush in the end.

Mostly I'm just curious if the later racks have a lube system sealed from the boots or does the grease thicken up with time and won't leak out. Might be time to service the rack when the new boots come in if that's the case.


Either way the zip tie should work fine for a while.

[John Gervais]

Yeah, I've also followed the 90W gear oil vs. semi-fluid grease debate and have absolutely no idea what is inside my rack.  I had the original rack replaced when I first bought the mini - didn't have a garage and only a few basic tools at the time, oh so long ago. 

Of course, the MG specialist who sold the mini to me was a former BMC authorised importer, dealer and service center (previous DOMI (Dansk Oversøisk Motor Industri) importer, forhandler & værksted) and is the place who installed the steering rack, and he didn't use a 'genuine' rack, so I have not idea which MK2 + rack I've got.  It doesn't have the centralizing dowel hole, which kinda bothers me...  I've a triangular enameled metal DOMI Service sign on the wall in the garage.

I'll zip-tie it and drive on for now, but have a feeling I'll be ordering some stuff while it's on sale, so will be getting gaiters before long.