Steering dust boots?

[drof 89]

Our local NAPA cannot get dust boots for a manual steering. They only list a part number for power steering dust boots. Is there a differance between the two? I've never seen a Festiva with a power steering R&P. Will the boots for a power rack fit a manual rack? Thanks

[roycehof]

I don't know - I was able to get a new set of dust boots for the manual steering from Festiva Motorsports (festivamotorsport.com). They fit perfectly - I used zip ties to fix them to the unit and arms. The guys at Festivamotorsport have reasonable price also. I think they were $25 (shipped) about 3 years ago. The guy that you want to talk to is Roger. BTW were are you in the PA - what town are you near?

[drof 89]

I'm 11 miles west of Carlisle. Where the best auto flea markets on earth are held. P.S. Were these boots you bought rubber or synthetic?

[Pu241]

I got a set, I assume for a manual, with a front suspension kit from FMS as well.
I could probably post a pic with a ruler for reference if it would help, when I get back.

roycehof, don't you thinks it a bit humorous for someone from "Mid Atlantic" to ask where someone from "south central pa" is specifically?

[Pu241]

Were these boots you bought rubber or synthetic?

I think pretty much all plastic materials are synthetic, except for bio-based resins, I don't know what the natural rubber is used to make any more, but nearly all rubber is synthetically produced.

[drof 89]

I was Just curious because what ever the factory installed was something that grease loved or road salt loved to eat! Every car i have looked at in the yards and for sale. The boots are wasted! Wrong compound i guess? I guess i should have said poly. And yea mid atlantic? I'm guessing somewere at the N.C. S.C. border.?

[Pu241]

I was Just curious because what ever the factory installed was something that grease loved or road salt loved to eat! Every car i have looked at in the yards and for sale. The boots are wasted! Wrong compound i guess?I guess i should have said poly

Possibly wrong compound or because these car were essentially "disposable" they didn't use a compound with appropriate heat and ozone stabilizers to save money.
I can't tell you if the ones I got will fair any better as I haven't installed them yet.
They should be good for a few years, if not more, anyway!

"Poly" doesn't really help either, as polyisoprene is rubber as we are familiar with it, both synthetic and natural, then there are numerous other rubbery materials polybutadiene, copoly polypropylene, etc, etc.
FWIW, the ones I got from FMS are likely copoly polypropylene, it's got shinny and slick surface.

[mattswabb]

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=109

[drof 89]

Yea. Slick and shiney feel to it. That's what i'm after. Back when this first came out i was into air cooled VWs. And it solved the leaky swing axel tranny boot problem forever. I drove them for years after installing the new poly boots on. And never had a tear or leak again.

[hawkdoc60]

I'm 11 miles west of Carlisle. Where the best auto flea markets on earth are held. P.S. Were these boots you bought rubber or synthetic?

I have been to both Hershey and Carlisle auto shows, but I can't remember ever seeing any Festiva parts, except for a carb two years ago.

[MONSOON]

Try this link. The one in that thread gives a 404 error.

https://www.dormanproducts.com/cgi-bin/vm91corp30r/item-dtl.w?sid=KkAfhkOkjKcaciaI009269726399635887&item=03670&icrid=&clt=hwrap1&vsrch_str=03670&vsrch_brand=ALL&vsrch_cat=ALL&st_amount=&end_amount=&start=&vfrom=&prev=&vnext=&category_list=:0

[drof 89]

I looked at that link mattswab but NAPA only lists boots for power R&P. Are they the same? I've never seen a power steering Festiva R&P. Does it take the same boots as a manual steering?

[drof 89]

I have been to both Hershey and Carlisle auto shows, but I can't remember ever seeing any Festiva parts, except for a carb two years ago.

Yea. Festiva parts are rarely seen at the big shows. And i've never seen a Festiva or parts at the Carlisle import show. Sucks! When the Chinese offered big dough for scrap metal a few years back. The yards around here unloaded them.

[jglutz]

I changed my inner tie rods and replaced the boots this past June...all of the parts from NAPA.

The part number off the invoice is 269-1614

I just checked the web site...it's available

http://tinyurl.com/c2gu97

[bravekozak]

power steering boot

I had to get a power steering boot out of an Aspire for my Festiva, when I changed over from a manual rack. The power steering dust boot one is a lot longer. You will have to take out the steering column in order to install it properly. Good luck.