Steering Rack Boot Replacement (clamp & tools)

If I have to, I'll use whatever pliers or channellocks that I have. But I'm sure there isn't much room which will be the real problem I think.

I looked at a few DIY videos (but by no means all) where about half used the plastic zip ties which I think won't hold up with cold, heat & oil around.

The other half used a metal clamp, about half of which used a typical hose clamp worm gear type (which will hold up but which have sharp bouncy ends).

The rest used a steel clamp that came with the package but none (so far) showed how they tightened/crimped that steel clamp but this one vide.

For just pulling on a wire to close a hose clamp I might not need much room. But where do I get those pull-type hose clamps?

Quit watching videos.

Do what any pinball game man would do. Hire a mechanic, play pinball for an hour, and voila ... done.

Those are common crimp type clamps. The tool used looks similar in action to the end nippers used to trim horses hooves. Very likely you can find the parts store version on the rack in the store or as a loaner tool or both. They are very common as they are used on those as well as CV boot clamps. To assemble them you put the slots over the ears on the clamp and then use the tool on the raised area to crimp the band just so it doesn't move in the groove. You don't want it real tight as you can damage the boot, but you want it tight enough that is doesn't leak.

This is the same tool used for the CV boots that is used with the smaller rack boot clamps.

I like your idea of seeing if I can get it as a loaner tool.

And that video was pretty good in that it was as real as real can get.

But what scares me is the video you provided shows the guy cursing away at the clamp even as he has the entire shaft right in front of him on the desk!

It's really not that bad. Eric is running on the clock so anything that can mess up causes frustration. If you are doing the steering bellows it's not as bad as the parts can't wander around as you work.