Solved - Lower Steering Shaft Boot Replacement | Ford Explorer Forums - Serious Explorations

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Solved Lower Steering Shaft Boot Replacement

Prefix for threads that contain problems that have been resolved, and there is an answer within the thread.

Paul Fithian

Elite Explorer
Joined
October 12, 2016
Messages
337
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109
City, State
Long Beach, IN
Year, Model & Trim Level
2007 Job 1 RWD V8 Limited
I described replacement of the lower steering shaft ~ 1.5 years ago in this thread: Steering Shaft

Recently discovered this new steering shaft (Dorman 425-384) has a ruptured boot, with no evidence of it rubbing on anything:
Dorman 425-384 Boot Fail.jpg


Instead of replacing the entire shaft, one can fit this generic boot, Dorman 614-020, on the shaft. No trimming necessary, it fits nicely.
Dorman 614-020 installed on shaft.jpg

Dorman 614-020 installed on vehicle.jpg


It appears more robust and weighs 104 grams, more than twice the weight (44 grams) of the one that Dorman installed on this shaft.

No evidence of it rubbing on anything, we'll see how it holds up. This option is ~ $200 less than replacing the entire shaft.
 












Chinese Dorman boots crack quickly.
 






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