Catalog

GENERAL MOTORS 13286689 BOOT STEERING RACK

GENERAL MOTORS 13286689 BOOT STEERING RACK

Product Specifications

Product quality
OEM Equivalent Grade
starstarstar
Wholesale price USD $1.07
Wholesale price CNY ¥7.2
bolt MOQ (Minimal order)
100 pcs
local_shipping Production time
25-45 days
package_2 Shipping Weight: —
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GENERAL MOTORS 13286689
GENERAL MOTORS 13354440
GENERAL MOTORS 1609182
GENERAL MOTORS 1609028
Overview & Operating Principle
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The BOOT STEERING RACK is a steering rack gaiter — a pleated rubber or thermoplastic elastomer accordion boot that seals the exposed end of the steering rack bar where it exits the steering rack housing on both the driver and passenger sides, protecting the rack bar's precision-ground surface and the inner tie rod ball joint from road contamination, water, and road salt that would otherwise cause rapid corrosion and accelerated wear of these safety-critical components. The steering rack bar is a precision-ground cylindrical steel rod whose surface finish must remain smooth to maintain the seal between the rack and the rack housing's internal wiper seals on hydraulic power steering systems; on electric power steering racks the same surface cleanliness is required to prevent abrasive particles from entering the rack housing through the wiper seal and contaminating the recirculating ball nut or the rack's toothed section. The inner tie rod end — the ball joint connecting the rack bar to the outer tie rod — is located inside the large-diameter end of the gaiter and is packed with grease that the gaiter retains; the grease lubricates the ball joint through its full angular range as the rack moves left and right during steering. The gaiter must accommodate the full lateral displacement of the rack bar during lock-to-lock steering — typically 60–80 mm of linear travel per side — by compressing and extending through its accordion profile without the folds inverting, collapsing, or cracking at any steering angle or temperature.

This unit — GENERAL MOTORS 13286689 — is manufactured to OEM-equivalent specifications: large-diameter end bore and retaining band groove for the rack housing attachment, small-diameter end bore for the tie rod attachment, boot length and bellows profile for the full rack travel range, material compound for road salt and grease resistance at underbody temperatures, wall thickness for the required number of steering articulation cycles, and retaining band type — screw, crimp, or T-bolt — matched to the original part are matched to the original. Supplied as a kit including the boot, retaining bands, and grease sachet. Available wholesale from 1.07 USD, MOQ 100 pcs, production lead time 25-45 days.

Steering rack gaiters fail through rubber cracking at the bellows fold radius from ozone degradation and fatigue — the inner fold radius is the highest-stress zone and cracks first; through physical tearing from stone chip impact or contact with adjacent chassis components when the rack is at full lock; and through retaining band failure at the large end that allows water and road grit direct access to the rack bar and inner tie rod. A torn gaiter that has been driven on for any significant distance allows abrasive grit to reach the rack bar surface and the inner tie rod ball joint within a small number of wet road kilometres — the contamination destroys the inner tie rod ball joint's grease film and the ball and socket surfaces, eventually requiring complete steering rack replacement rather than the simple gaiter replacement that was available when the tear was first identified.

Symptoms & Diagnostics
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Grease spray on the inner wheel arch or on the suspension components adjacent to the steering rack — dark brown or black grease flung in an arc pattern from the rack area — the gaiter has split and the centrifugal action of the rack bar's lateral movement during steering is flinging inner tie rod grease out through the split; the grease pattern is most visible on the inner surface of the wheel arch liner and on the lower control arm directly adjacent to the rack; confirm which side is affected and replace that gaiter immediately before the inner tie rod ball joint loses its grease supply entirely.
Power steering fluid leak from the outer end of the rack housing — wet power steering fluid staining at the rack bar exit point — on hydraulically assisted racks — the rack housing's internal wiper seal has been damaged by abrasive grit that entered through a torn gaiter; the grit scratched the rack bar surface, and the scratched bar now cuts the wiper seal lip on every steering movement; gaiter replacement at this stage must be accompanied by rack bar inspection — a scratched rack bar requires rack replacement as no seal can seal reliably against a scored surface.
Knocking or clunking from the front suspension during slow-speed parking manoeuvres and over rough road surfaces that is felt through the steering wheel — the inner tie rod ball joint has lost its grease supply from a torn gaiter and the ball-and-socket contact surfaces are worn; the knock is produced by ball play within the socket on every direction change of the steering load; at this stage the inner tie rod requires replacement simultaneously with the gaiter — replacing only the gaiter on a worn inner tie rod allows continued wear of a safety-critical steering component.
Visible split, hole, or collapsed section in the gaiter body — detectable on underbody inspection by visually examining the gaiter at full right and full left steering lock to open the bellows folds and expose any fold-line cracks — the most common presentation of gaiter failure; inspect both sides at every underside inspection as a crack on one side typically indicates the opposite gaiter is at the same age-related material stage; replace on discovery of any breach regardless of size.
Gaiter that has compressed or collapsed at full rack extension — the boot is bunched up rather than extending cleanly when the rack is moved toward its end stop — the gaiter's bellows profile has stiffened and is no longer extending freely through the full rack travel; the collapsed section creates a point load on the rack bar that can abrade the surface and may also allow the gaiter edge to fold into the rack housing gap and be cut during the return stroke.
Water or mud visibly inside the gaiter interior — detectable when the gaiter is removed from the large-diameter end for inspection — the large-diameter retaining band has failed and road water has been entering the gaiter and soaking the inner tie rod and rack bar; even without a visible hole in the gaiter body, a failed retaining band produces the same contamination as a tear; inspect the inner tie rod and rack bar for corrosion after removing a water-contaminated gaiter.
Logistics & Customs
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International HS Code
4016.99
EAEU Customs Code (TN VED)
4016 99 970 9
Typical Net Weight
Country of Manufacture
China
Standard MOQ
100 pcs
Production Lead Time
25-45 days
Always verify the exact 8-digit or 10-digit subheading with your customs broker for the destination country, as tariff schedules and duty rates vary by jurisdiction.
Installation Tips
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  1. Inspect the inner tie rod ball joint for play and grease condition before fitting the new gaiter — with the old gaiter removed, grip the inner tie rod and attempt to move it radially and axially relative to the rack bar; any perceptible play in the ball joint confirms wear that requires inner tie rod replacement before the new gaiter is installed; also wipe the existing grease from the joint and examine its colour and texture — black gritty grease confirms contamination that has been wearing the joint surfaces and mandates tie rod replacement regardless of the absence of detectable play.
  2. Inspect the rack bar surface at the housing exit point for scratches, corrosion, or pitting — run a clean finger along the rack bar surface in the area that travels through the housing wiper seal during full lock; any scratch or corrosion ridge detectable by feel will cut the wiper seal on every steering movement; a damaged rack bar surface requires rack replacement — a new gaiter cannot protect a wiper seal that is already being destroyed by the bar surface condition.
  3. Clean the rack bar and housing exit bore completely before fitting the new gaiter — remove all traces of old grease, grit, and corrosion from the rack bar surface and the housing flange where the gaiter's large-diameter end will seal; any grit trapped between the new gaiter's large end and the housing flange will allow water ingress at the retaining band position from the first wet road drive; wipe the rack bar with a degreaser-soaked cloth and confirm the housing flange is clean before positioning the new gaiter.
  4. Pack the new gaiter interior with the full quantity of grease supplied in the kit before sliding it over the inner tie rod — the grease sachet supplied with the gaiter kit is the correct type and quantity for the inner tie rod ball joint; pack the grease into the large-diameter section of the gaiter before fitting to ensure the ball joint is fully surrounded by grease from the first steering movement; do not substitute with wheel bearing or chassis grease — use only the grease type specified in the kit.
  5. Secure both retaining bands to their designed clamping force — the large-diameter band at the housing must seal against road water ingress; the small-diameter band at the tie rod must prevent the gaiter from pulling off the tie rod during maximum rack extension; crimp-type bands require a dedicated CV boot band pliers to close the ear to the specified gap; screw-type bands must be tightened to the specified torque and excess band length trimmed to prevent contact with adjacent components at full steering lock.
  6. Install the new BOOT STEERING RACK (GENERAL MOTORS 13286689), move the rack through its full travel range by rotating the steering wheel slowly lock-to-lock and confirm the gaiter extends and compresses smoothly without the bellows inverting, collapsing, or contacting any adjacent suspension or subframe component at any steering angle, confirm both retaining bands are fully seated, and perform a wheel alignment check after any inner tie rod work before returning the vehicle to service.
Tools: CV boot band pliers for crimp-type retaining bands, torque screwdriver for screw-type bands, degreaser and lint-free cloths for rack bar cleaning, inner tie rod removal tool where replacement is required, torque wrench for inner tie rod lock nut, four-wheel alignment equipment where inner tie rod has been replaced.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Should both steering rack gaiters be replaced simultaneously when only one has failed?
Replacing both gaiters simultaneously is recommended when the failure is from age-related rubber degradation — both gaiters accumulate identical ozone exposure, temperature cycling, and articulation fatigue from the same mileage in the same environment; if the driver-side gaiter has cracked from material fatigue at the bellows fold, the passenger-side gaiter is at the same material stage and will crack within a short interval. When the failure is from a specific physical event — a stone impact or a single contact with a kerb — replacing only the damaged gaiter is appropriate provided the opposite gaiter is confirmed pliable and crack-free on detailed inspection. In all cases, both inner tie rod joints should be inspected for play and grease condition simultaneously — the inner tie rod replacement decision is independent of the gaiter replacement decision. ok.parts supplies steering rack gaiters individually and in axle pairs at wholesale MOQ from 1.07 USD per unit.
Is a wheel alignment always required after steering rack gaiter replacement, and under what conditions?
Gaiter-only replacement without any disturbance of the inner tie rod position does not require a wheel alignment — the gaiter is a sealing component that makes no contribution to the steering geometry; removing and refitting the gaiter without loosening the inner tie rod's lock nut or the tie rod's rack attachment leaves the toe setting unchanged. A wheel alignment is mandatory whenever the inner tie rod has been replaced or repositioned — the inner tie rod's thread engagement on the rack bar determines the toe angle, and any change in this engagement requires alignment verification and adjustment. If the inner tie rod was found worn during the gaiter inspection and was replaced simultaneously, a full four-wheel alignment must be performed before the vehicle is returned to service.
How does the OEM-equivalent aftermarket unit compare to the genuine OEM part?
OEM-equivalent units in this catalogue replicate the current OEM design geometry and material specification. Quality is verified against OEM cross-reference data. When ordering in bulk, confirm with our team that the specification matches the latest OEM revision for your application.
Is white-label or custom packaging available for wholesale orders?
Yes. ok.parts works directly with the manufacturing facility and can accommodate neutral white-label packaging or fully branded packaging with your company logo, part numbers, and barcode. Minimum order quantities and lead times for custom packaging may differ from standard stock. Contact the team via the inquiry form to discuss your specific requirements.
Frequently Replaced Together
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PartReason for Combined Replacement
Inner Tie Rod End
OEM ref. varies by steering rack		The inner tie rod ball joint is the component the gaiter exists to protect — a gaiter that has been torn and has admitted road grit to the joint has compromised the very component it was sealing. Any inner tie rod that shows detectable play on manual inspection after gaiter removal must be replaced simultaneously with the new gaiter; fitting a new gaiter over a worn inner tie rod provides protection for a component that will shortly require rack removal for replacement anyway, producing a repeat steering disassembly within a short mileage.
Outer Tie Rod End
OEM ref. varies by side		The outer tie rod end connecting the inner tie rod to the steering knuckle accumulates the same mileage and road exposure as the gaiter and inner tie rod. With the steering disassembled for gaiter access, inspect the outer tie rod end for play by gripping it and attempting radial movement — any perceptible play confirms wear; replacing a worn outer tie rod simultaneously with the gaiter eliminates a repeat steering disassembly and wheel alignment within a short mileage and restores the complete tie rod assembly to known serviceable condition.
Power Steering Fluid
OEM specification — where hydraulic rack fitted		On hydraulic power steering racks, a torn gaiter that has been admitting road water to the rack housing may have allowed water to enter the rack's internal hydraulic circuit through the wiper seal — water in the power steering circuit causes corrosion of the rack housing bore and the hydraulic piston surfaces, and dilutes the fluid's anti-wear additive package. With the gaiter removed for replacement, inspect the fluid at the reservoir for milky discolouration indicating water contamination; replace the power steering fluid simultaneously with the gaiter if any water contamination is found.