Replacing Gaiters

[Tonsko]

Questions questions! That's all some people have!

So the rear gaiters on the outside of the car (the side away from the diff that protects the wheel hub) have split. Or one of them has, anyway. Might as well replace both sides - or indeed all four! I hear that the inner gaiters aren't an MOT fail, but it's better that they are replaced I guess, so they can do their job.

Is this an easy task for a novice?

[Tonsko]

With regards parts for these - it's a XR4x4 LSD - presume the drive shafts are ford too? Is it just a case of asking for Sierra rear gaiters?

Would this fit for instance? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sierra-RS-Cosworth-2wd-Rear-Driveshaft-Gaiter-Kit-/110943889850?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item19d4c569ba#ht_500wt_971

[JulianE]

I own a live axle car myself but this should be a fairly straigtforward job , I had a similar set up on a Citroen that was rear engined and used Ford running gear .

You should find that by undoing the hub nut first and then undoing the inner cv retaining bolts would be the best way to proceed , follow that by undoing either the top or the bottom ball joints and this should allow you to pull the hub up or down to pull the outer cv from the hub , if not you may have to dismantle more although would be good if you do not have to completely remove the hub unit . Inner cv will be held on by a circlip on the end of the shaft , if you get this end off slide the joint off carefully , and you can put both boots on along the shaft . Remember on reassembly to tightnen bolts to appropriate torque settings , I think Tigger has listed these on Westfield world website .

Also note that the MOT was revised in January and inner CV boots are testable and will fail if split excessively allowing the ingress of dirt etc although a small hole will not fail .

And yes boots will be as per Ford and should be readily available from the local factors .

[Tonsko]

Cheers Julian! Presume this means that I will have to buy a torque wrench?

ETA - this seems like a rather excellent site. http://www.super7thheaven.co.uk/Sierra_Rear_Differential

[BEN99W]

If you're loosening the rear hub nut, you'll need a beefy breaker bar and strong arms as its torqued to 250lb/ft. Don't risk a torque wrench to undo it, as it's a precision instrument, not designed for 'goon' work (although you'll need one to do it back up again).

Not meaning to teach you to suck eggs.

Ben

[s2rrr]

You should also renew the locknut(s) as it is bad practise to re-use them. Remember they are handed left and right so be careful to order the correct side. If you are doing both sides you will need one of each makes that simple as I can't remember which thread is on which side.

Bob

[Tonsko]

I think, on reflection, that this is a lot more complicated than it initially appears, and that I might leave this to an expert, and see if I can hang around while he does it.