Steering rack gaiters/bellows making a hissing noise

[daverclasper]

Hi. Noticing this on both sides when turning the steering full travel, with the wheels (I've just remembered that maybe you shouldn't do this?) and the front of car raised.

Couldn't feel any air escaping around the gaiters, though I guess it must be. Never noticed this before?.

I am guilty of putting four extra squirts of grease this time, spaced out along the rack travel.

The gaiters seem ok condition, wise though would need to clean them to be sure their not perished.

Is this an issue, do you think, or are they not meant to be air tight as such at the ends, to allow air to escape, anyway?.

I have wondered if this job can be done too often, as the grease won't escape anyway?.

Cheers, Dave

 

Edited August 17, 2021 by daverclasper

[NonMember]

I don't think they need to be air tight. If they were you'd need either to inflate and deflate them or at the least bleed the air through the rack every time you turned the wheel. It's nice if they're reasonably grease-tight but all you really need them for is preventing dirt ingress.

[daverclasper]

Thanks Non Member. The answer I was hoping for.