Rack and pinion bellow dilemma 2008 Silverado

Joined
May 29, 2019
Messages
96
Location
Michigan
Vehicle specs:
2008 Chevy Silverado Z71 crew cab short box with heavy towing package.

I’ve ordered rack and pinion boots/bellows from three different places: Amazon (PartsW —> horrible customer service, stay away from this 3rd party seller!), Rockauto, and now Autozone.

None of them have given me the correct part for my truck. The opening on the bellow that goes over the steering rack has been much smaller on the parts I have purchased than the one that came off of the vehicle. (See photos). And I even after striking out on the Amazon ones opted to spend the money on the AC Delcos from RA which was another hit and a miss.

Does anyone know if for some reason the Z 71 off-road with the heavy towing package had a different steering rack and pinion option?

I am striking out here and I need to get the truck put back together for next weekend to go pick up a camper.
 

Attachments

  • E6CB11F9-A28D-4461-8173-7B5405C92948.jpeg
    E6CB11F9-A28D-4461-8173-7B5405C92948.jpeg
    122.6 KB · Views: 20
  • 72F890CD-DACF-4DD6-B051-0DD55352E861.jpeg
    72F890CD-DACF-4DD6-B051-0DD55352E861.jpeg
    136.3 KB · Views: 21
  • 854C573A-4934-4318-96E1-8D13C8A9CF96.jpg
    854C573A-4934-4318-96E1-8D13C8A9CF96.jpg
    72.9 KB · Views: 21
  • 1C0A40C8-8D04-43B5-A9BB-0DC452899B69.jpg
    1C0A40C8-8D04-43B5-A9BB-0DC452899B69.jpg
    49.9 KB · Views: 20
  • 98F35876-C7B8-4951-9476-D733662DAEE3.jpg
    98F35876-C7B8-4951-9476-D733662DAEE3.jpg
    48.2 KB · Views: 20
  • F90F6247-5610-432C-9D15-20BB31B7999A.jpeg
    F90F6247-5610-432C-9D15-20BB31B7999A.jpeg
    122.7 KB · Views: 21
  • F478B0BC-594F-4C05-805C-AEFB7D6AB0AE.jpeg
    F478B0BC-594F-4C05-805C-AEFB7D6AB0AE.jpeg
    182.9 KB · Views: 21
  • 7996E442-4312-43CF-B8E9-13C33CC3C9D7.jpeg
    7996E442-4312-43CF-B8E9-13C33CC3C9D7.jpeg
    188.3 KB · Views: 20
Just a thought...




The only problem is those sites sort to the same ACDelco part number that RA shipped me, which doesn’t fit. And the ACDelco boots were plastic, not rubber. So….?

I am completely amiss as to why this truck has a larger mounting diameter for the boot on the rack. What’s even more hilarious is that the AC Delco boots say they fit a 2.62 diameter rack which is simply not true because the opening on the boot which is plastic is only about 2 inches.
 

Attachments

  • 4DDE9F83-944B-4930-9291-7EEE824F701B.jpg
    4DDE9F83-944B-4930-9291-7EEE824F701B.jpg
    72.9 KB · Views: 0
  • D1E748F8-3DAF-43D4-9D6C-A6A55E64DBC4.jpg
    D1E748F8-3DAF-43D4-9D6C-A6A55E64DBC4.jpg
    54.5 KB · Views: 1
The only problem is those sites sort to the same ACDelco part number that RA shipped me, which doesn’t fit. And the ACDelco boots were plastic, not rubber. So….?

I am completely amiss as to why this truck has a larger mounting diameter for the boot on the rack. What’s even more hilarious is that the AC Delco boots say they fit a 2.62 diameter rack which is simply not true because the opening on the boot which is plastic is only about 2 inches.
Maybe the thing to do is talk to a parts person at a dealership and explain the problem and show him/her the boots.
 
Thermoplastic boots are the way to go if you can the right ones. Some OE boots can be a tight fit and need some persuading to install, I use a little grease in the rod end and WD40 on the rack side, it helps.
 
Back
Top