• Steering Rack Boot Replacement (clamp & tools)

    From John Robertson@21:1/5 to All on Thu Jun 3 09:29:27 2021
    Have you ever replaced the steering arm boot on a FWD vehicle?

    I'm going to replace a Toyota steering arm boot for a friend (yes, I'm aware
    a mechanic would replace the entire arm - let's not go there please) and I
    have a question about the inside large steel clamp & tools. https://www.toyotapartsdeal.com/oem/toyota~clamp~for~steering~rack~boot~no~1~90080-46293.html
    https://parts.toyota.com/p/Toyota_2000_Camry/Rack-and-Pinion-Bellows-Clamp/63344312/9008046293.html

    It's a Toyota (I'm not sure the make but maybe a Camry of the early 2000s).
    The friend is buying the parts at the dealer so they'll all be OEM.
    45535-06030 steering boot
    90080-46293 big clamp
    90467-19021 small clamp

    My question is about the large clamp. I don't have specialized clamp tools
    and like most people, I'm leery of zip ties as are others as shown here. https://youtu.be/m_iIkZEl6qY?t=293

    I can find all sorts of specialized clamps on Amazon but I don't know
    _which_ is the specialized clamp I'd need for a Toyota clamp.
    https://www.amazon.com/Lisle-30600-Offset-Clamp-Plier/dp/B0080J1200
    https://www.amazon.com/Supercrazy-Clamps-Pliers-Banding-SF0231/dp/B01GM9PLZQ/

    Maybe I can make do with pliers but maybe not.
    Maybe I can make do with a typical worm gear hose clamp but maybe not. Everything (as you know) depends on the amount of room and what it may touch
    as the boot itself tore for a reason (probably from bouncing against metal). (Why these boots tear is beyond me as you'd think they'd be designed to not touch anything while driving.)

    Anyway, do you have advice as to what kind of clamp tools are needed?
    --
    "Old pinballers never die, they just flip out."

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  • From John Robertson@21:1/5 to All on Thu Jun 3 12:41:05 2021
    If I have to, I'll use whatever pliers or channellocks that I have.
    But I'm sure there isn't much room which will be the real problem I think.

    I looked at a few DIY videos (but by no means all) where about half used the plastic zip ties which I think won't hold up with cold, heat & oil around.

    The other half used a metal clamp, about half of which used a typical hose clamp worm gear type (which will hold up but which have sharp bouncy ends).

    The rest used a steel clamp that came with the package but none (so far)
    showed how they tightened/crimped that steel clamp but this one vide. https://youtu.be/m_iIkZEl6qY?t=293

    Notice he only needed to _pull_ tightly on the end to tighten that clamp!

    For just pulling on a wire to close a hose clamp I might not need much room. But where do I get those pull-type hose clamps?
    --
    "Old pinballers never die, they just flip out."

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  • From Hank Rogers@21:1/5 to John Robertson on Thu Jun 3 16:16:13 2021
    John Robertson wrote:
    If I have to, I'll use whatever pliers or channellocks that I have.
    But I'm sure there isn't much room which will be the real problem I
    think.

    I looked at a few DIY videos (but by no means all) where about half
    used the
    plastic zip ties which I think won't hold up with cold, heat & oil
    around.

    The other half used a metal clamp, about half of which used a
    typical hose
    clamp worm gear type (which will hold up but which have sharp
    bouncy ends).

    The rest used a steel clamp that came with the package but none (so
    far)
    showed how they tightened/crimped that steel clamp but this one vide. https://youtu.be/m_iIkZEl6qY?t=293

    Notice he only needed to _pull_ tightly on the end to tighten that
    clamp!

    For just pulling on a wire to close a hose clamp I might not need
    much room.
    But where do I get those pull-type hose clamps?

    Quit watching videos.

    Do what any pinball game man would do. Hire a mechanic, play
    pinball for an hour, and voila ... done.

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  • From Steve W.@21:1/5 to John Robertson on Thu Jun 3 23:46:27 2021
    John Robertson wrote:
    If I have to, I'll use whatever pliers or channellocks that I have.
    But I'm sure there isn't much room which will be the real problem I think.

    I looked at a few DIY videos (but by no means all) where about half used the plastic zip ties which I think won't hold up with cold, heat & oil around.

    The other half used a metal clamp, about half of which used a typical hose clamp worm gear type (which will hold up but which have sharp bouncy ends).

    The rest used a steel clamp that came with the package but none (so far) showed how they tightened/crimped that steel clamp but this one vide. https://youtu.be/m_iIkZEl6qY?t=293

    Notice he only needed to _pull_ tightly on the end to tighten that clamp!

    For just pulling on a wire to close a hose clamp I might not need much room. But where do I get those pull-type hose clamps?


    Those are common crimp type clamps. The tool used looks similar in
    action to the end nippers used to trim horses hooves. Very likely you
    can find the parts store version on the rack in the store or as a loaner
    tool or both. They are very common as they are used on those as well as
    CV boot clamps.
    To assemble them you put the slots over the ears on the clamp and then
    use the tool on the raised area to crimp the band just so it doesn't
    move in the groove. You don't want it real tight as you can damage the
    boot, but you want it tight enough that is doesn't leak.

    This is the same tool used for the CV boots that is used with the
    smaller rack boot clamps.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHlkv9kdVhY

    --
    Steve W.

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  • From John Robertson@21:1/5 to Steve W. on Thu Jun 3 23:29:46 2021
    On 2021/06/03 7:46 pm, Steve W. wrote:
    This is the same tool used for the CV boots that is used with the
    smaller rack boot clamps.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHlkv9kdVhY

    I like your idea of seeing if I can get it as a loaner tool.

    And that video was pretty good in that it was as real as real can get.

    But what scares me is the video you provided shows the guy cursing away at
    the clamp even as he has the entire shaft right in front of him on the desk! https://youtu.be/uHlkv9kdVhY?t=1825

    Can you imagine how difficult it would be on the vehicle?
    --
    "Old pinballers never die, they just flip out."

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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  • From Steve W.@21:1/5 to John Robertson on Sat Jun 5 07:52:32 2021
    John Robertson wrote:
    On 2021/06/03 7:46 pm, Steve W. wrote:
    This is the same tool used for the CV boots that is used with the
    smaller rack boot clamps.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHlkv9kdVhY

    I like your idea of seeing if I can get it as a loaner tool.

    And that video was pretty good in that it was as real as real can get.

    But what scares me is the video you provided shows the guy cursing away at the clamp even as he has the entire shaft right in front of him on the desk! https://youtu.be/uHlkv9kdVhY?t=1825

    Can you imagine how difficult it would be on the vehicle?

    It's really not that bad. Eric is running on the clock so anything that
    can mess up causes frustration. If you are doing the steering bellows
    it's not as bad as the parts can't wander around as you work.

    --
    Steve W.

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  • From Chas Gantz@21:1/5 to John Robertson on Fri Jun 11 12:57:10 2021
    On Friday, June 4, 2021 at 1:29:46 AM UTC-4, John Robertson wrote:
    On 2021/06/03 7:46 pm, Steve W. wrote:
    This is the same tool used for the CV boots that is used with the
    smaller rack boot clamps.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHlkv9kdVhY
    I like your idea of seeing if I can get it as a loaner tool.

    And that video was pretty good in that it was as real as real can get.

    But what scares me is the video you provided shows the guy cursing away at the clamp even as he has the entire shaft right in front of him on the desk! https://youtu.be/uHlkv9kdVhY?t=1825

    Can you imagine how difficult it would be on the vehicle?
    --
    "Old pinballers never die, they just flip out."

    You can get boot clamps that don't require any special tools.

    Chas

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