Steering upper rubber boot

boybach

boybach

Well-known member
Dec 9, 2020
1,033
195
63
There are only traces of the rubber boot left on my steering column, the joint and bearings seem ok still but I do need to get one back on there and
packed ASAP! Where do i get one and how do I install it?

thanks guys

Larry
--
Larry - Victoria BC -

1977 Palm Beach VIN TZE167V101295 - 39,000 miles, PO said everything working but forgot the word NOT. New wiper blades, New SS exhaust system ..
 
WE have them and everything else in stock.
Go to our sight and look and order on line or call.

> There are only traces of the rubber boot left on my steering column, the
> joint and bearings seem ok still but I do need to get one back on there and
> packed ASAP! Where do i get one and how do I install it?
>
> thanks guys
>
> Larry
> --
> Larry - Victoria BC -
>
> 1977 Palm Beach VIN TZE167V101295 - 39,000 miles, PO said everything
> working but forgot the word NOT. New wiper blades, New SS exhaust system ..
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>

--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
jimk
http://www.gmcrvparts.com
1-800-752-7502
 
About 15ys ago i was faced with boot issues on the slip shaft. After reading a reference to a 4X4 shock boot being used by somebody, and looking at a
picture of the whole shaft in a Caspro catalog, I went to NAPA where I opened every box that had a shock boot and found one that fit almost perfect.
The brand name is "Strut Mate". NAPA part # 63975 for $15.95. It covers the CV joint clear down to the zirk on the lower part of the shaft. The upper
end was a tight fit and is held in place with the zip tie supplied with the boot. The zip tie however did not work well, so I replaced it with a
narrow hose clamp, Lower part was just a little big so I fit the split in the boot around the zirk and put a zip tie on either side of the zirk,
keeping it from sliding either up or down, but still leaving the zirk out for greasing. Been using it that way for 15+ years now with no issues. JWID

--
Larry
78 Royale w/500 Caddy
Menomonie, WI.
 
This link is one of the threads discussing the NAPA part:

http://gmc.mybirdfeeder.net/GMCforum/index.php?t=msg&th=38844&goto=316739&rid=0

I used a Honda? boot years ago for the CV/Upper boot and it split within 12-18 months. It's normally VERY dry during our camping season, so it's has not been repalced yet.. I was thinking about trying the NAPA/Monroe part myself - but hadn't fully considered all options.

More info on replacement (if you feel like reading):

http://gmc.mybirdfeeder.net/GMCforum/index.php?t=msg&th=32274&goto=262319&rid=0

http://gmc.mybirdfeeder.net/GMCforum/index.php?t=msg&th=40226&goto=327804&rid=0

http://bdub.net/gmcmotorhome.info/steering.htm

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/g6091-steering-shaft.html

Rob
76 Royale Twin Beds, Dry Bath
Victoria, BC

>
> There are only traces of the rubber boot left on my steering column, the joint and bearings seem ok still but I do need to get one back on there and
> packed ASAP! Where do i get one and how do I install it?
>
> thanks guys
>
> Larry
> --
> Larry - Victoria BC -
>
> 1977 Palm Beach VIN TZE167V101295 - 39,000 miles, PO said everything working but forgot the word NOT. New wiper blades, New SS exhaust system ..
 
Hey Larry - I read your post in an archive yesterday and already went searching for the "Strut Mate", NAPA part # 63975. Napa have either changed
their numbering system or the part is NLA - any searches I did came up blank.

Thanks anyway, sounds like just the thing for the job.

all the best

Larry

> About 15ys ago i was faced with boot issues on the slip shaft. After reading a reference to a 4X4 shock boot being used by somebody, and looking
> at a picture of the whole shaft in a Caspro catalog, I went to NAPA where I opened every box that had a shock boot and found one that fit almost
> perfect. The brand name is "Strut Mate". NAPA part # 63975 for $15.95. It covers the CV joint clear down to the zirk on the lower part of the shaft.
> The upper end was a tight fit and is held in place with the zip tie supplied with the boot. The zip tie however did not work well, so I replaced it
> with a narrow hose clamp, Lower part was just a little big so I fit the split in the boot around the zirk and put a zip tie on either side of the
> zirk, keeping it from sliding either up or down, but still leaving the zirk out for greasing. Been using it that way for 15+ years now with no
> issues. JWID

--
Larry - Victoria BC -

1977 Palm Beach VIN TZE167V101295 - 39,000 miles, PO said everything working but forgot the word NOT. New wiper blades, New SS exhaust system ..
 
I've not used this boot - but this is what I found when I looked:

https://www.napacanada.com/en/p/ALXL2541201

Or USA:

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/ATML2541201

Rob
76 Royale Twin Beds, Dry Bath
Victoria, BC

>
> Hey Larry - I read your post in an archive yesterday and already went searching for the "Strut Mate", NAPA part # 63975. Napa have either changed
> their numbering system or the part is NLA - any searches I did came up blank.
>
> Thanks anyway, sounds like just the thing for the job.
>
> all the best
>
> Larry
>

>> About 15ys ago i was faced with boot issues on the slip shaft. After reading a reference to a 4X4 shock boot being used by somebody, and looking
>> at a picture of the whole shaft in a Caspro catalog, I went to NAPA where I opened every box that had a shock boot and found one that fit almost
>> perfect. The brand name is "Strut Mate". NAPA part # 63975 for $15.95. It covers the CV joint clear down to the zirk on the lower part of the shaft.
>> The upper end was a tight fit and is held in place with the zip tie supplied with the boot. The zip tie however did not work well, so I replaced it
>> with a narrow hose clamp, Lower part was just a little big so I fit the split in the boot around the zirk and put a zip tie on either side of the
>> zirk, keeping it from sliding either up or down, but still leaving the zirk out for greasing. Been using it that way for 15+ years now with no
>> issues. JWID
>
>
> --
> Larry - Victoria BC -
>
> 1977 Palm Beach VIN TZE167V101295 - 39,000 miles, PO said everything working but forgot the word NOT. New wiper blades, New SS exhaust system ..
 
Flex boot FB 3000 from Amazon worked for me.

--
Scott Nutter
1978 Royale Center Kitchen, Patterson 455, switch pitch tranny, 3.21 final drive, Quad bags, tankless water heater, everything Lenzi. Alex Ferrera
installed MSD Atomic EFI
Houston, Texas
 
Thanks lads, thinking this one might be alright, I like the fact it's silicone ..

what do you guys think?

https://www.amazon.ca/Replacement-Performance-Silicone-Flexible-Constant/dp/B07ZFB1N14/ref=pd_di_sccai_1?pd_rd_w=ishWk&pf_rd_p=e92f388e-b766-4f7f-aac1-ee1d0056e8fb&pf_rd_r=Z9SRFN94BTXHKT8NY3X6&pd_rd_r=c8e17879-e191-462b-9265-c5d4d49c8cb8&pd_rd_wg=qLal6&pd_rd_i=B07ZFB1N14&psc=1
--
Larry - Victoria BC -

1977 Palm Beach VIN TZE167V101295 - 39,000 miles, PO said everything working but forgot the word NOT. New wiper blades, New SS exhaust system ..
 
OK I got the blue silicone boot, looks food so far for the upper CV joint.

OK here's the $64.00 question - when I separate the CV joint assembly from the upper column, do I undo the pinch bolt and slip it off the small
splines or do I undo the series of bolts around the top of the joint?

Also (this may not work) after reading tales of woe from other owners who have struggled to remove the blue splines from the lower U joint, it seems
to me that well greased components would have a great deal of suction happening that would prevent the blue spline from withdrawing. Now if the zirk
were removed before trying to separate the parts, air could enter through the now open grease port and relieve the suction effect.

TIA

Larry
--
Larry - Victoria BC -

1977 Palm Beach VIN TZE167V101295 - 39,000 miles, PO said everything working but forgot the word NOT. New wiper blades, New SS exhaust system ..
 
Where did you get a silicone boot? The boot, upper and lower I put on my
coach turned to dust. Dirtiest job I ever did.

> OK I got the blue silicone boot, looks food so far for the upper CV joint.
>
> OK here's the $64.00 question - when I separate the CV joint assembly from
> the upper column, do I undo the pinch bolt and slip it off the small
> splines or do I undo the series of bolts around the top of the joint?
>
> Also (this may not work) after reading tales of woe from other owners who
> have struggled to remove the blue splines from the lower U joint, it seems
> to me that well greased components would have a great deal of suction
> happening that would prevent the blue spline from withdrawing. Now if the
> zirk
> were removed before trying to separate the parts, air could enter through
> the now open grease port and relieve the suction effect.
>
> TIA
>
> Larry
> --
> Larry - Victoria BC -
>
> 1977 Palm Beach VIN TZE167V101295 - 39,000 miles, PO said everything
> working but forgot the word NOT. New wiper blades, New SS exhaust system ..
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>
--

*Len and Pat Novak*

*1978 GMC Kingsley*

*The Beast II with dash lights that work and labels you can see!*

*Las Vegas, NV* new email: B52sRule

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showgallery.php?cat=4375

www.bdub.net/novak/
 
> Where did you get a silicone boot? The boot, upper and lower I put on my
> coach turned to dust. Dirtiest job I ever did.

Amazon. Here ya go. Now how about telling me how to disassemble the damn thing?
https://
www.amazon.ca/Replacement-Performance-Silicone-Flexible-Constant/dp/B07ZFB1N14/ref=pd_di_sccai_1?pd_rd_w=ishWk&pf_rd_p=e92f388e-b766-4f7f-aac1-ee1
d0056e8fb&pf_rd_r=Z9SRFN94BTXHKT8NY3X6&pd_rd_r=c8e17879-e191-462b-9265-c5d4d49c8cb8&pd_rd_wg=qLal6&pd_rd_i=B07ZFB1N14&psc=1

Larry
--
Larry - Victoria BC -

1977 Palm Beach VIN TZE167V101295 - 39,000 miles, PO said everything working but forgot the word NOT. New wiper blades, New SS exhaust system ..
 
That was many years ago. I’ll look at it tomorrow and see what I can
remember. It was not that hard....but dirty, greasy, nasty, never again
kind of stuff.

> > Where did you get a silicone boot? The boot, upper and lower I put on
> my
> > coach turned to dust. Dirtiest job I ever did.
>
> Amazon. Here ya go. Now how about telling me how to disassemble the damn
> thing?
> https://
>
> www.amazon.ca/Replacement-Performance-Silicone-Flexible-Constant/dp/B07ZFB1N14/ref=pd_di_sccai_1?pd_rd_w=ishWk&pf_rd_p=e92f388e-b766-4f7f-aac1-ee1
>
> d0056e8fb&pf_rd_r=Z9SRFN94BTXHKT8NY3X6&pd_rd_r=c8e17879-e191-462b-9265-c5d4d49c8cb8&pd_rd_wg=qLal6&pd_rd_i=B07ZFB1N14&psc=1
> http://www.amazon.ca/Replacement-Performance-Silicone-Flexible-Constant/dp/B07ZFB1N14/ref=pd_di_sccai_1?pd_rd_w=ishWk&pf_rd_p=e92f388e-b766-4f7f-aac1-ee1d0056e8fb&pf_rd_r=Z9SRFN94BTXHKT8NY3X6&pd_rd_r=c8e17879-e191-462b-9265-c5d4d49c8cb8&pd_rd_wg=qLal6&pd_rd_i=B07ZFB1N14&psc=1
>
> Larry
> --
> Larry - Victoria BC -
>
> 1977 Palm Beach VIN TZE167V101295 - 39,000 miles, PO said everything
> working but forgot the word NOT. New wiper blades, New SS exhaust system ..
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>
--

*Len and Pat Novak*

*1978 GMC Kingsley*

*The Beast II with dash lights that work and labels you can see!*

*Las Vegas, NV* new email: B52sRule

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showgallery.php?cat=4375

www.bdub.net/novak/
 
I don’t know if it’s the best way, but it worked for me. Fell free to add better ideas. There is also a procedure in the manual.

1. Drive straight ahead to center the wheels. Take out ignition key to lock wheel.
2. Cut off old boot.
3. Clean off as much grease as possible.
4. But alignment marks on all parts to be removed.
5. Take out 6 bolts from the top plate.
6. Slide the splined shaft upward out of its housing.
DO NOT do anything to remove any of the blue coating on the shaft.
7. Pack the bearing with grease.
8. Install boot and band.
Reinstall in reverse order. Paying special attention to the alignment marks.

I went slow and cleaned everything. It took me about 45 minutes.
Scott
--
Scott Nutter
1978 Royale Center Kitchen, Patterson 455, switch pitch tranny, 3.21 final drive, Quad bags, tankless water heater, everything Lenzi. Alex Ferrera
installed MSD Atomic EFI
Houston, Texas
 
Thanks Scott!

Larry
--
Larry - Victoria BC -

1977 Palm Beach VIN TZE167V101295 - 39,000 miles, PO said everything working but forgot the word NOT. New wiper blades, New SS exhaust system ..
 
Pay special attention to that instruction to "4. P(B)ut alignment marks on
all parts to be removed." The upper CV, with its 6 bolts, has those 5
WRONG ways to go back together, making that reassembly one of the most
common ways of getting the steering box out of alignment. And the CV
housing is VERY hard -- I had to use a grinding wheel in a Dremel tool to
put permanent marks on mine (MANY years ago). I suggest installing a Zerk
fitting in the upper half while it's out so it can be kept greased for the
next 50 years.

The Blue Shaft, with its 4 possible positions is important too, but easier
to keep correct than the CV.

Ken H.

> Thanks Scott!
>
> Larry
> --
> Larry - Victoria BC -
>
> 1977 Palm Beach VIN TZE167V101295 - 39,000 miles, PO said everything
> working but forgot the word NOT. New wiper blades, New SS exhaust system ..
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>
 
> Pay special attention to that instruction to "4. P(B)ut alignment marks on all parts to be moved." The upper CV, with its 6 bolts, has those 5
> WRONG ways to go back together, making that reassembly one of the most common ways of getting the steering box out of alignment. And the CV housing
> is VERY hard -- I had to use a grinding wheel in a Dremel tool to put permanent marks on mine (MANY years ago). I suggest installing a Zerk fitting
> in the upper half while it's out so it can be kept greased for the next 50 years.
>
> The Blue Shaft, with its 4 possible positions is important too, but easier to keep correct than the CV.
>
> Ken H.

You best believe what KenH writes (always), but this a time take it to heart if you have any doubt at all. This was one way my steering was messed
up. It took a whole day of trial and error (Try All and Error?) playing with the 60° and 90° combinations to get that correct. If you are so old
you had a mechanical drawing class along the way, you probably got to do the exercise where you use the two triangles to create so many different
angles... That was what this was like.

It was very easy to end up 15° off and then nothing works and you get to think through how you can move things from there to get where it needs to
be.

Matt
--
Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
 
I avoid silicone parts for boots and hoses as poor tear resistance. Almost as much as I avoid urethane arm bushings for harshness.
--
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
 
> I avoid silicone parts for boots and hoses as poor tear resistance. Almost as much as I avoid urethane arm bushings for harshness.

Oh well too late now. 8o :d

Larry
--
Larry - Victoria BC -

1977 Palm Beach VIN TZE167V101295 - 39,000 miles, PO said everything working but forgot the word NOT. New wiper blades, New SS exhaust system ..
 
Thanks Ken, I'll use a file for marking, old school and lack of power tools y'know/ :roll: :o :)

Larry
--
Larry - Victoria BC -

1977 Palm Beach VIN TZE167V101295 - 39,000 miles, PO said everything working but forgot the word NOT. New wiper blades, New SS exhaust system ..
 
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