Parts for your 2014 Toyota Bb-Rack boots

2014 Toyota bB Rack Boots: What They Do and How to Look After Them

Yes, rack boots are fitted to the 2014 Toyota bB. Technical references including Toyota’s Electronic Parts Catalogue (EPC) for the QNC2# series, and the Toyota Repair Manual (Steering section), list left- and right-hand “Boot, Steering Rack” bellows on the rack-and-pinion assembly. The shared-platform service literature used for the Daihatsu Materia/Subaru Dex of the same generation also specifies rack bellows. So, rack boots are absolutely relevant on this model.

On a 2014 Toyota bB, the rack boots (also called steering rack bellows) sit at each end of the steering rack, sealing the inner tie rods and keeping road grit, water, and dust from chewing out the rack bushes and ball sockets. Whether the assist is hydraulic or electric, the gear is still a rack-and-pinion setup that relies on those flexible boots to protect the moving bits and hold grease where it belongs.

For owners and workshops across Australia and New Zealand, the playbook is simple: inspect the boots at every service. Look for splits, perishing, loose clamps, or grease weeping. A torn boot lets contamination in, and that can quickly turn a tidy steering feel into slop, noise, or premature wear of the inner tie rods and rack seals.

Replacement is straightforward and affordable, and it’s far cheaper than a steering rack rebuild. Quality boots should come with new clamps, use them, and orient the bellows so there’s no twist at full lock. If you’ve disturbed the outer tie rod ends or changed toe length, organise a wheel alignment straight after. If you only slipped the boot off and back on without altering lengths, alignment is typically unchanged—but always check steering centring and tyre wear just the same.

There’s no fixed kilometre interval for rack boots, condition-based servicing is the go. City kerbs, gravel roads, and coastal air can all accelerate rubber ageing. If the bB does courier duty or weekend road trips on corrugations, consider more frequent inspections.

Signs the bB may need rack boot attention include:

• Visible cracks or tears in a boot
• Grease or grit present around the inner tie rod
• Clicking, knocking, or a notchy feel when turning
• Moisture or rust staining near rack ends

Catch a dodgy boot early and the steering stays light, tight, and quiet—keeping tyres happy and the bB pointing true.

Are rack boots the same as CV boots on a 2014 Toyota bB?

No. Rack boots protect the steering rack ends and inner tie rods, while CV boots live on the driveshafts protecting the constant velocity joints. They look similar but do different jobs and are not interchangeable.

If a rack boot tears, it risks steering wear, if a CV boot tears, it risks joint failure and grease flinging. Both deserve quick attention when damaged.

Do I need a wheel alignment after replacing a rack boot on a bB?

If the tie rod lengths weren’t altered, an alignment may not change. But in real-world servicing, outer tie rod ends are often cracked loose to slip the boot on, so a post-job wheel alignment is strongly recommended.

An alignment also verifies the steering is centred and protects your tyres from uneven wear.

How often should the rack boots be checked on a 2014 bB?

Give them a look every service, or at least every 10,000–15,000 km. High heat, gravel, and coastal conditions can age rubber faster, so more frequent checks are smart.

Any sign of cracking, oiling, or loose clamps is the cue to replace before the rack or inner tie rods cop damage.