Parts for your 1986 Mitsubishi Pajero-Rack boots

1986 Mitsubishi Pajero rack boots — do they exist on this model?

Short answer: no, rack boots aren’t used on the 1986 Mitsubishi Pajero. According to Mitsubishi’s factory workshop manual for the first‑generation Pajero (L040/L044 series, 1982–1991), the vehicle runs a recirculating‑ball steering box with a pitman arm, idler arm, centre link, and tie‑rod ends, not a rack‑and‑pinion assembly. The Haynes repair manual for Pajero/Montero/Shogun (1983–1996) and the Mitsubishi ASA parts catalogue diagrams for the same era back this up, showing no steering rack and therefore no rack bellows/boots listed for this chassis.

Rack boots are the accordion‑style rubber bellows that seal the inner tie rods where they enter a rack‑and‑pinion housing. Because the ’86 Pajero uses a steering box layout, there’s nowhere for a rack boot to live. Instead, it relies on dust boots at the tie‑rod ends, bushings and bearings in the idler arm, and seals on the steering box to keep grit and water out and fluid in.

For anyone servicing an ’86 Pajero who’s searching for “rack boots,” it’s worth redirecting attention to the parts that actually do the sealing and wear work on this setup:

• Tie‑rod end dust boots (inner and outer)
• Idler arm bush/bearing and any dust boots
• Pitman arm spline/seal area and steering box sector shaft seal
• Centre link and relay rod joints
• Power steering hoses and the steering box input/output shaft seals

Good maintenance here keeps the steering tight and predictable on‑road and off. Check for free play at the wheel, uneven tyre wear, clunks over corrugations, or power‑steering fluid drips at the box. Replace cracked or torn dust boots promptly—once dirt gets in, joints wear quickly. Many idler arms and some aftermarket joints include grease nipples, if fitted, give them a cautious pump with the correct chassis grease during routine servicing. After any steering work, book a wheel alignment to keep tyre wear in check and steering feel tidy.

If a parts listing shows “rack boots” for a 1986 Pajero, it’s likely a catalogue mix‑up with later rack‑equipped Mitsi passenger cars, not this 4WD. For this model year Pajero, think steering box and linkages, not rack and bellows.

• Does a 1986 Mitsubishi Pajero have rack boots?
  It doesn’t. The ’86 Pajero uses a recirculating‑ball steering box with linkages, not a rack‑and‑pinion. There are no rack bellows to replace—look to tie‑rod dust boots, the idler arm, and steering box seals instead.
• What should be checked instead of rack boots on an ’86 Pajero?
  Inspect tie‑rod end boots for cracks, the idler arm for play, the pitman arm and centre link joints for looseness, and the steering box for leaks or excessive free play. Replace worn boots early to keep grit out and joints alive.
• Why do some parts sites list rack boots for this model?
  That’s usually a catalogue mapping error. First‑gen Pajero diagrams in workshop manuals and OEM parts catalogues show no steering rack for 1986 models, so “rack boots” don’t apply to this chassis.