Steering Column Rubber tear

[Lukeh17]

I have taken my MK2 1.6 to my local mechanic because the rubber on the steering gator that covers the UJ has a tear on it and its gonna be a big job to fix.. he reckons about £400 because he will need to remove so much in order to re do it... any ideas of what I can cover the tear with at the meantime?

[mark1gls]

Mine was spilt for 10 odd years before I replaced mine, it's not a MOT fail. I fitted a new steering rack so fitted a new boot then but you can change just the boot by undoing the 1 nut and bolt holding the UJ joint to the steering rack spline, you might need to open up the joint a little with a big screw driver then pop the joint out of the way. Take the old boot off and fit the new boot, push the new boot up out of the way then rejoin the UJ joint and do up the nut and bolt pull the boot over the steering rack job done! I can be done on the drive with the car on a jack and axle stand by working under the car and takes about 1/2 hour.
I think your mechanic does not want to do the job as £400 is rather steep.
The split because the exhaust downpipe should have a heat shield on them but like most cars the heat shield is missing as it does not usually come with a new down pipe I have used some insulation sort of bubble wrap (had lots left over when I insinuated my shed) to keep the heat off the new boot and it seems to work, I just replace it every 6 months as it starts to cook I even use normal plastic cable ties and they don't melt with the heat.
Picture as I replaced the bubble wrap a few days ago.

[Lukeh17]

Thanks for the info and the picture. Yeah I thought it was a bit steep. He said it was a big job but how you have described it makes it sound a bit easier ;). I have a feeling its on the steering column as well. Sorry for the confusion but I am new to all this!!

[mark1gls]

There is no boot inside the car on the steering column, if you look at the bottom of the steering column and follow down to the UJ joint there is a rubber bung in the hole to keep the noise down and that's it.
The boot and the nut and bolt are in this picture in the link, gives you an idea of what the steering rack looks like. (useful website for part number and pictures)
No. 5 Boot, No. 5A rubber bung No.19,20 nut and bolt.
http://www.partsbase.org/vw/scirocco-sc ... track-rod/

[james butler]

If you do get a new boot take the time to make yourself a new heat shield.
I got the proper heat shield material from a scrapyard for very little money then shaped and fitted it to the downpipe.