simonjrwinter Posted July 20, 2016 Report Share Posted July 20, 2016 (edited) I bought a new pair of steering rack gaiters from the TR shop at the IWE When I came to fit them tonight I found they are not really fit for purpose. The lower gaiter came off the rack as it was split. Not only are the new gaiters shorter, as they don't have so many "folds" in them they won't stretch as much as the old ones. Add to that the fact they are too small to go over the inner part of the rack and they are a complete waste of money. OK, They were cheap, but if they don't even fit, what is the point of them? Simon Edited July 20, 2016 by simonjrwinter Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted July 20, 2016 Report Share Posted July 20, 2016 Hi Simon, something not right there. There are different sized racks and gaiters. I think my gaiters are for an MG of some sort. Give the shop a call I'm sure they will try to help. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
simonjrwinter Posted July 20, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2016 Yes, I will. Although I've looked on eBay and most of them are like the ones I have bought. The only pair that look correct are from the USA eBay that say " made in Britain"! Gggrrrrrr. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
simonjrwinter Posted July 22, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 22, 2016 Ok after much persuasion, I managed to get the LHS gaiter on. However, on full left hand lock the gaiter is stretched to its absolute limit (and beyond) pulling the end of the gaiter from the recess where it is supposed to be tie-wrapped on. Without the tie wraps it comes straight off! The left hand gaiter needs to be longer than the right hand gaiter as it has to stretch over the end of the joint where the right hand gaiter is attached to the outer part of the joint. In actual fact, the LHS gaiter is SHORTER (4 convolutions/folds) whereas the RHS gaiter is LONGER (5 convolutions/folds) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
simonjrwinter Posted July 22, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 22, 2016 Rimmers seem to the correct gaiters in stock, will report back when they arrive if they fit! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
simonjrwinter Posted July 25, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 25, 2016 Arrived today and fitted perfectly, Simon Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mike3739 Posted July 25, 2016 Report Share Posted July 25, 2016 Good to hear Simon Cheers Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Peter Cobbold Posted July 25, 2016 Report Share Posted July 25, 2016 Perhaps we need a TR Brown motif for such parts. What if they had been exported, what a hassle then. Its not right that we do the fit for purpose testing. One solution might be for suppliers bringing in new stock to send an item or to an onwer in immediate need, to test. Free ( within reason). Rubber parts that fail would be weeded out before contaninating the whole supply chain. Pete Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john.r.davies Posted July 25, 2016 Report Share Posted July 25, 2016 What was the response from TRR Shop? Surely, wrong part supplied. Please gods, not inferior quality? JOhn Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted July 26, 2016 Report Share Posted July 26, 2016 Hi Folks, before panicking over these gaiters it would be nice to know where the problem lies. As mention in post #2 my TR gaiters were like Simon's. When the Moss man looked at them he went off and came back with MG gaiters. So is it the gaiters or the rack. We know that the racks have had issues over the years. Were all ST racks the same for each marque - mine weren't. The wrong part is not necessarily a quality issue - hopefully the rubber is OK. The TR GOLD project may not capture this type of problem as the supplied gaiters may well fit another rack. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
simonjrwinter Posted July 26, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 26, 2016 The gaiters Rimmers supplied were the correct ones for my rack, a standard (reconditioned) 3.5 turns rack. MGB gaiters are the same both sides whereas the TR items are handed Simon Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted July 26, 2016 Report Share Posted July 26, 2016 The gaiters Rimmers supplied were the correct ones for my rack, a standard (reconditioned) 3.5 turns rack. MGB gaiters are the same both sides whereas the TR items are handed Simon It will be interesting to see how long they last. Stuart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
simonjrwinter Posted July 26, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 26, 2016 Indeed.... If they're anything like the rubber used in the upper front ball joints, I'll be doing it again in a couple of years! Simon Quote Link to post Share on other sites
boxofbits Posted July 26, 2016 Report Share Posted July 26, 2016 Are there any gaiters for modern day cars which will do the job? As long as the inner internal diameter is okay, and length of the bellow, then they would probably be good quality. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted July 26, 2016 Report Share Posted July 26, 2016 Indeed.... If they're anything like the rubber used in the upper front ball joints, I'll be doing it again in a couple of years! Simon More like a few months the way they fall to bits! Stuart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted July 26, 2016 Report Share Posted July 26, 2016 Hi Kev, you could look here for some good rubber parts etc http://www.balljointboots.co.uk/ Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
boxofbits Posted July 26, 2016 Report Share Posted July 26, 2016 Hi Roger It looks like a decent site and I do need a track rod end ball joint cover only for the mini, so this site might be the answer. SIMON , you could look at this link for Mk2 Escort rack boots. They look almost identical to the one in your thumbnail picture above. I have an Escort lower column coupling on my 4A which fits perfectly and is stronger, so maybe something else 'Escort' will fit! http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FORD-ESCORT-MK2-RALLY-CAR-STEERING-RACK-GAITER-Recorded-Delivery-/371453748501 Regards Kevin Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mike3739 Posted July 26, 2016 Report Share Posted July 26, 2016 Hi Kev, you could look here for some good rubber parts etc http://www.balljointboots.co.uk/ Roger Hi Roger Have you used any of their products? Cheers Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mark69 Posted July 26, 2016 Report Share Posted July 26, 2016 (edited) My steering rack gaiters are in surprisingly good condition compared to other products from said supplier, I have replaced top ball joint rubbers with ones from the company on Roger recommended above (good quality). I have purchased new half shaft gaiters from tr shop at iwe due to old ones falling apart. Just to put you in the picture my car hasn't seen the light of day or moved more than a few feet. Mark Edited July 26, 2016 by Mark69 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mark69 Posted July 26, 2016 Report Share Posted July 26, 2016 (edited) A Edited April 14, 2020 by Mark69 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest ntc Posted July 26, 2016 Report Share Posted July 26, 2016 (edited) The TR Shop ones have done 1.5 k and a trip to lemans and both have split ball joint that is. Edited July 26, 2016 by ntc Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mike3739 Posted July 26, 2016 Report Share Posted July 26, 2016 That's really not on Neil, have you had a conversation with them, if so what was the response? Cheers Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted July 26, 2016 Report Share Posted July 26, 2016 Hi Mike, No; But others have said they are good. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest ntc Posted July 26, 2016 Report Share Posted July 26, 2016 Mike Out of warranty i guess as fitted 18 months ago and not much use with the house move, past mot not to long ago , I inspected the car on its return Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mike3739 Posted July 26, 2016 Report Share Posted July 26, 2016 Hi Mike, No; But others have said they are good. Roger Cheers Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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