Parts for your 2013 Ford Falcon-Rack boots

2013 Ford Falcon rack boots — what they do and when to replace them

Technical references including the Ford FG/FG MkII Falcon Workshop Manual (Steering — Power Rack and Pinion), the Ford Australia service literature for FG MkII, and local parts catalogues for 2012–2014 models confirm the 2013 Ford Falcon runs a rack‑and‑pinion steering assembly with rubber bellows (rack boots) on each side. That means rack boots are very much used and relevant on this model.

On a 2013 Falcon, the rack boots seal the moving ends of the steering rack and the inner tie rods. Their job is simple but crucial: keep water, dust, and road grime out, hold in the factory grease, and let the rack breathe as it moves. Many FG racks use a small balance tube between the boots, so pressure equalises left to right — a tiny detail that stops the boots ballooning or sucking in muck on wet roads.

For day‑to‑day servicing, rack boots are a quick visual check item. If a boot splits, grit can chew out the inner tie‑rod joint and the rack’s seals, leading to play in the steering and potential power‑steering fluid leaks. Australian and New Zealand conditions — heat, UV, corrugations, and standing water — can age the rubber faster, so a look every 10,000–15,000 km or at each service is smart.

• Watch for: cracks or tears, grease flung onto the crossmember, oil inside a boot (points to a rack seal issue), a wet boot after rain, or new uneven tyre wear.
• Any torn boot should be replaced promptly to avoid WOF/RWC headaches and bigger steering bills.

Replacement is straightforward for a trained tech: remove the outer tie‑rod end, slide off the old boot, inspect and regrease the inner joint, then fit a quality OE‑style or neoprene boot with proper clamps. On FG models, reconnect the boot balance tube if fitted and ensure there’s no twist in the bellows. Always finish with a wheel alignment — even if the threads were counted back exactly — because toe can shift. Boots are best done in pairs, and if there’s fluid inside a boot, the rack itself needs further diagnosis before new bellows go on. DIY is possible with stands, a tie‑rod tool, and care, but most owners will prefer a workshop to nail the alignment and torque specs, no dramas.

• How often should rack boots be replaced on a 2013 Ford Falcon?
  They don’t have a fixed replacement interval, they’re replaced when cracked, torn, or oil‑soaked. Have them inspected at each service (about every 10,000–15,000 km or 12 months). In harsh conditions or lots of gravel driving, check more often. If one side fails, doing both sides is sensible to keep wear even.
• Will torn rack boots fail a WOF or RWC?
  Yes, commonly. A split boot allows contamination into steering components, which is considered a safety risk. Most inspectors will call a fail until the boot is replaced and the steering re‑checked for play and leaks.
• Do new rack boots mean a wheel alignment is needed?
  It’s strongly recommended. Even if the tie‑rod end is wound back to the same spot, a minor change in toe can happen. A quick alignment protects tyres and keeps the Falcon tracking straight.