Fitting Steering Gator Over Inner tie Rod End

[1969Plus2]

After replacing shot tie rod ends, I figured that I'd replace the steering gators, which had seen better days for sure. They were easy to get off, and the drivers side (LHD) seems easy enough to replace but the passenger side seems like it is impossible to get on over top of the inner tie rod end nut, which is significantly larger than the opening on the gator.

After working at it for hours and trying all manner of ways to stretch out the gator to get it over the nut nothing seems to work. Does anyone have any tips?

[pharriso]

Yes, it's a b**ch of a job that I will remember for a while, especially with that lovely grease everywhere. What you really need is a set of those Gynecologist forcep thingies.....

I think what I resorted to is to sinsert one index finger from each hand into the small end & stretch the hell out of it to pass it over the outer joint. It will stretch a lot, of course be careful you don't tear the boot.

[1969Plus2]

Honestly, I was looking for one of those tools but I couldn't figure out what exactly to call it. My problem is that I can't seem to stretch it enough with all of my fingers in enough directions!

[SENC]

I used the plastic from a milk jug to make a slip-cone that I could pull out of the small end. Recently did the same on my Seven. Here is a link to my suspension thread that shows a couple pictures.

viewtopic.php?f=42&t=42020&start=15

[EPA]

I can’t tell you how it’s supposed to be done but I can tell you how I did this.
I warmed the gaiter in hot water for a while and then I turned the gaiter inside out at the inner joint end so that when it was pushed up against the inner joint it was the bellows part of the gaiter touching the joint. I then pushed the gaiter firmly against the joint and also pushed the inside out part straight again and it flipped straight over the inner joint into place.
I have only ever needed to do this once and so I don’t know if it works every time but it took only seconds after previously trying for ages.
It may seem impossible to turn the gaiter inside out but once you get it started it was ok
I hope this makes sense
Ed

[1969Plus2]

Following up here for everyone's benefit. Ed's trick of warming the gator up and turning it inside out worked beautifully.

I brought a pot of water up to a near boil, took it off the stove and let the gator sit in the pot for 5 min or so. After it was warmed up, it was sufficient pliable that I was able to turn it inside out. With the inner tie rod end of the gator inside out, the opening wasn't quite large enough to slip over the inner tie rod but it was big enough that it was very close and once you "flip" the gator onto the tie rod end there is plenty of grease to help it slide all the way on.