Parts for your 2018 Suzuki Splash-Rack boots

2018 Suzuki Splash rack-boots: what they do and when to replace them

Based on the Suzuki Splash/Ritz Steering System Service Manual (steering rack and tie-rod section showing bellows boots on each side of the rack) and the Suzuki Electronic Parts Catalogue for Splash/Agila B platform models (listing steering gear bellows/gaiters and clamps), this vehicle is fitted with rack-boots. The Opel/Vauxhall Agila B workshop documentation—built on the same platform—also illustrates the same rack-and-pinion layout with protective bellows. So rack-boots are relevant and used on a 2018-registered Suzuki Splash.

On the 2018 Suzuki Splash, the rack-boots (also called rack bellows or gaiters) are the flexible sleeves that seal each end of the steering rack where the inner tie-rods attach. Their job is simple but critical: keep dust, water and grit out of the rack, hold the right amount of grease around the inner joints, and allow full steering travel without binding. The Splash uses column-assist electric power steering, so there’s no hydraulic fluid in the rack—yet a torn boot can still let in road muck that scores the rack bar, wears the inner joints and eventually creates slack or nasty noises through the wheel.

Good servicing in Australia and New Zealand means giving those boots a quick look at every service or WOF/RWC check. If a boot is cracked, split, perished or oily with flung grease, it’s time to replace it. Don’t ignore moisture or rusty staining near the clamps either—water inside a boot is bad news for the inner joint. Replacing rack-boots is a tidy, workshop-level job: the tie-rod end is removed, the old boot and clamps come off, the rack end is cleaned and lubricated, then a fresh boot and new clamps go on. Many techs replace boots in pairs to keep things even, and a wheel alignment is recommended afterwards because the tie-rod end has been disturbed.

Tips the pros use:

• Choose quality boots and proper clamps—cable ties can loosen and let in grit.
• Make sure the boot isn’t twisted and is seated in the inner and outer grooves so it can breathe as the rack moves.
• If an inner tie-rod has play after a split boot, replace the joint as well—saving the rack from further wear.

Common signs the Splash needs rack-boots attention:

• Grease slung on the inside of a front wheel or subframe
• Cracks in the bellows folds or dampness inside the boot
• Light knocking over bumps or steering feel that’s a bit vague

Look after the rack-boots and the Splash’s steering stays tight, quiet and safe for many more kilometres.

Popular questions

Do rack-boots affect a WOF or roadworthy?
Yes. Torn or unsecured rack-boots are typically a fail item in NZ WOF and Australian RWC checks, because they allow contamination that can compromise steering safety. Replacing damaged boots restores the seal and keeps the steering gear protected.

Do I need a wheel alignment after changing rack-boots?
It’s wise to get one. Even if the tie-rod end is counted back on, tiny changes can alter toe. An alignment preserves tyre life and steering feel.

Is there power steering fluid in the Splash rack-boots?
No. The Splash uses electric power steering assistance on the column, not a hydraulic rack. The boots protect grease and the inner joints, any oiliness you see is usually grease, not power steering fluid.