From: NoEMail@home.org   
      
   Xeno  wrote:   
   > The boot keeps lubricant in and water out but it also keeps *dirt and   
   > grit* out. By not replacing the boot post haste you risk premature wear   
   > and abrasion of the steering rack internals. Be aware that as the boot   
   > flexes it flows air back and forth. It will, in effect, suck in dirt and   
   > grit though the tear.   
      
   There was a similar boot around the U-joints in a van I owned. I   
   modified the drive train on the van in a way that caused the   
   boots on the U-joints to flex and fail within a short time.   
   After replacing the boots a few times I decided to just wait   
   for them to fail before replacing the boots. The van went   
   tens of thousands of miles without the U-joints failing.   
      
   Literally YMMV   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)