Some steel tube thingy dropped out of the undercarriage of our '03 Grand Caravan. It appears to be a connecting rod that keeps the rubber dust boots on the steering gear. It is still connected on the passenger side, and it looks like a zip tie to hold the other end in loosened up.

I'm almost certain the fix is to just reattach the rod and secure it better. The van was driven only a few miles after it fell off the undercarriage, in dry weather, so I don't think there was any "contamination".

The Chilton manual is useless on this issue.

Can anyone advise?

TIA,
Dan

 

of course the chilton manual is useless. It will only tell you how to R&R the rack. Even the Factory service manual is useless. So since there is no printed answer out there, guess you'll be out of luck or use some skills and problem solving to put the connecting rod thing back into place and then figure out a suitable way to secure it. then while your at it, once you resolve the issue, take pictures of the entire process, write up a clear and concise explaination on the repair and post it so anyone else with this same problem can resolve it quickly from your work. You could even send all that information to Chilton and have them put it in the repair manual for the next publication. BTW that 'connecting rod' is a tube that allows air transfer from one dust boot to the other. that way the boots can vent to each other preventing dirt and moisture from being drawn in.

 

92Dak is right on the money. Since one boot "bellows" compresses while the other expands during a turn maneuver, the air tube moves the air back and forth. Small hose clamp or zip tie should secure it back in place in the opposite boot.

 

I'll be happy to post photos, but I think I'm going to need a third hand doing the clicking. Access to reconnect and then secure the rod is going to be tricky.

Thanks to both you and Rick for explaining the purpose of the tube.

 

Don't use excuses why you can't do something because it is tricky. Always use an optimistic attitude. You don't need a 3rd hand, use tools like a vice grip or speedy clamp or even bungy cords.