Lol I kid I kid. Yank the wheel, pop the tie rod end out of the knuckle, pull the bellow off the steering rack, spin the tie rod out, put new bellow on, insert tie rod with loctite, reassemble.

 

Tried for 2 hours to get the new bellows on the rack, it won't go on.

 

Are you positive it's the correct part? Did you compare the boot to the old one? If it is correct, try lubing it with grease. If that doesn't work, warm it up with a heat gun and try again. If that doesn't work, revert to my first response. Belushi has it right.

 

Positive it's the right one, had the part number and the old one at the Poo dealer.

I just can't slip it over the steering rack end, no room there to work, 2 of us tried at the same time. I did grease it.
Removed the tie rod from the wheel to slip it on the tie rod then pushed the boot toward the rack.
Wonder if there's more that should be disassembled near the rack..does the tie rod need to be completely removed then install the boot?? Don't believe that would work though.

 

Anyone here that's done this repair/installation? Drivers side.

I can get it on about 2/3's around but when trying to get the last 1/3 it just slips off again where I already had it on.
The boots are very flexable so heating it would probably make it worse.

 

The boots are different side to side. The driver's side should be the bigger of the two.

 

Yes, it is, I have the correct one.

 

It would be interesting to see some photos of this problem of getting "Big end onto the rack".

 

I could take some pictures but it a bit hard to get in there for a good picture, I don't believe a pic or 2 would really say much as I can get the boot almost on but the last little bit causes the rest to come off even with 2 of us.

 

Have any of you folks done this installation?

 

Maybe changing the header from "Any Suggestions?" to "Need help installing rack and pinion boot/bellows" - or something like that, just might get some more views and the "Suggestions" you are craving for.

But hey, that's just a "suggestion".

 

Changed it, thank you.

 

 

That would work I'm sure but I only need to replace the drivers side Bellows/Boot.

 

Maybe you got the wrong boot. It should just slide right over and then throw a zip tie on it.

 

Took the old 1 with me to the Poo dealer, they both are identical.
When sliding it on the tie rod towards the rack I cannot get the whole large end over the rack and yet while checking the inside diameter of the boot to the outside diameter of the rack where the tie wrap goes it's a perfect fit.
But when trying to "push" the boot onto the rack the boot sorta folds up and won't go completely on.
Talked to the Poo dealer today who are family friends of ours, the mechanic said "sometimes they can be a booger to slide over the rack"

 

You may have to take the entire rack out to get enough leverage to get it on there.

 

That's possible, pain though, but if I have to I will.

Wish someone here had done it before and had some suggestions, seems very strange it won't go on all the way around without coming off, seems like I can't stretch it far enough, even tried leaving it at full length and compressing it to short length, turned the steering all the way both left & right.such a simple thing but doesn't go on, I.D. diameter is right.

 

You stated heating it might make it worse. Try it and see. Eliminate one more possibility. Warm it up in the sun.

Is it possible to make a "shoe horn" device to assist the boot over the rack?

 

I have made/bent 2 tools to fit out of the plastic auto trim and moulding tools.

 

These:

Trim And Molding Tool Set, 5-Piece

Amazing deals on this 5Pc Trim/Molding Tool Set at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

 

Something isn't right. I did this on my XP turbo with zero issues. Please humor us and take a picture of the new boot next to the old boot and then take a picture standing back of the steering rack in the machine.

 

I left the old boot at the Poo dealer, I'm quite sure they would have tossed it by now, was 3-4 days ago.
I'll take pics tomorrow morning.

 

It appears that the boots for polaris RZR R&P are the same part number for most years and models. The YT videos of replacing inner tie rods on xp1000s that I viewed did not indicate any issues with boot installation. (videos showed replacing the right/passenger side though)

Is there any possibility that the R&P has been replaced with an aftermarket part that has a larger housing?

 

Don't think so as the new boot was exact same boot size as the one I removed so it wouldn't have fit if that was the case.
I will work on it again Monday and post here what happens.

 

Took 2 pictures a few moments ago, RZR is in a shed till I get at it again Monday, so pics are not real revealing as it's not jacked up to get a good shot.

 

Try again, didn't load right the 1st. time.

 

So is the tie rod end installed back in the knuckle already? I left mine disconnected until I got the boot on. It helped when I needed to wiggle the boot over the rack.

I just pushed the entire boot from the back until it compressed the accordion and kept pushing then kinda rotated the force applied in a circle as it went onto the rack.

In the pic it looks like your boot is partially turned inside out. That could be holding you back. Need to slide it back down the tie rod enough to pull it back up and flip it out again. There should be a flat part to put a clamp on.

 

So is the tie rod end installed back in the knuckle already? I left mine disconnected until I got the boot on. It helped when I needed to wiggle the boot over the rack.

I just pushed the entire boot from the back until it compressed the accordion and kept pushing then kinda rotated the force applied in a circle as it went onto the rack.

In the pic it looks like your boot is partially turned inside out. That could be holding you back. Need to slide it back down the tie rod enough to pull it back up and flip it out again. There should be a flat part to put a clamp on.

Yes the small end is turned inside out, that's the way I left it when I gave up for the day..LOL, that's not how it was when we were trying to install the new one.
Thanks for the instructions on how you did yours.

 

Is the rubber piece you are talking about a steering stop?

 

Not very thick, maybe 1/8"+/-, I'll see for sure Monday when I remove it, if it belongs there shouldn't it be shown on a RZR parts page?.
Have you seen a rubber piece inside that left side boot?
I doubt it could stop anything, too thin.

 

The plot thickens!
There is a video of someone "installing" rack boots on a Ranger (Polaris). He mentions that there is a L and R boot. He figures this out AFTER he installs the right boot on the left side. He went on to say he was not going to switch it and ordered another R boot. There was no putting a boot on the rack shown. Pretty much a video of a boot on a rack with someone saying in general "remove and replace".

This has nothing to do with the problem at hand, but another video that really isnt helpful but shows no indication of boot on the rack problems.

I believe there is likely something else causing the boot not to fit.

There are indications this machine was acquired by the OP from someone else.

I tend to agree with Wingman02 about the steering stop. And it should not interfere with boot install. However, OP states the piece is on the tie rod not the rack (the part that the inner tie rod attaches to.

There seems to be information that the OP cannot provide about any repairs/upgrades to the machine prior to his ownership.

Another one of those "When simple jobs go bad" scenarios! It'll get figured out!

 

The plot thickens!
There is a video of someone "installing" rack boots on a Ranger (Polaris). He mentions that there is a L and R boot. He figures this out AFTER he installs the right boot on the left side. He went on to say he was not going to switch it and ordered another R boot. There was no putting a boot on the rack shown. Pretty much a video of a boot on a rack with someone saying in general "remove and replace".

This has nothing to do with the problem at hand, but another video that really isnt helpful but shows no indication of boot on the rack problems.

I believe there is likely something else causing the boot not to fit.

There are indications this machine was acquired by the OP from someone else.

I tend to agree with Wingman02 about the steering stop. And it should not interfere with boot install.

There seems to be information that the OP cannot provide about any repairs/upgrades to the machine prior to his ownership.

Another one of those "When simple jobs go bad" scenarios! It'll get figured out!

I bought it in March of 2020 from the local Polaris dealer, it was a trade in.

 

It must be from a previous boot someone installed cause the one I removed was 100% intact but torn.

Are you saying to remove the tie rod entirely? And put the boot onto the rack first?
When you say "back" do you mean the rack side?

 

I wish I could just go over there and help you lol. It's hard to describe with text, but no I don't mean put the boot on the rack first, if you did that you wouldn't be able to see to get the tie rod and threaded back into the rack or get wrenches on there to tighten it.

So when I say back I mean on the tire side of the boot. So once you remove the old rubber piece, you should be able to push from the tire side of the bellow towards the rack and the boot or bellow should slide easily on the tie rod allowing you to completely compress the bellow up against the rack. Then with it compressed against the rack you just kind of wiggle it around in a circle, again from the tire side with your hand and it should pop right on.

 

Ok, worked on it today, got the Boot installed, still took over an hour to get it on but at least it's done now.

Thanks to all those who helped.

 

Hmmm….. I had to change out the driver side boot a few months back. Had no trouble getting it in place; but the little inboard zip tie gave my old useless fingers a fit. If my fingers were as limber as my d*$k and my d*$k was as stiff as my fingers I would be the happiest old bastard on the planet!!!!LOL

 

I had to grab the ribs closest to the rack with a long smooth flat-nosed pliers to pull the boot over the rack.

 

I just replaced mine and ended up wrapping electrical tape in front of and over the shoulder on the inner tie rod, lubed it up, and slid it over with a little effort.