Parts for your 2020 Mazda Cx-5-Rack boots

2020 Mazda CX-5 Rack Boots: What They Do and When to Replace

Technical sources confirm the 2020 Mazda CX-5 (KF series) uses steering rack boots (also called bellows). Mazda’s Workshop Manual for the KF CX-5 (2017–2021) in the Steering Gear and Linkage section details inspection of the steering gear boots, and Mazda’s electronic parts catalogue lists left and right steering gear boots for this model. Trade data sets used in AU/NZ (e.g., Autodata/HaynesPro) also specify rack boot inspection as part of routine steering checks on the CX-5’s electric power steering rack.

On this CX-5, rack boots sit at each end of the rack-and-pinion, sealing the inner tie rods and the rack bar from dust, water and road grit. They flex with steering travel, keeping grease where it belongs and stopping abrasive muck getting into the inner joints or the rack seals. Because the CX-5 uses electric power steering rather than a hydraulic pump, there isn’t power steering fluid in the rack boots, any contamination inside a torn boot is typically dirt or water, not fluid. Keeping these bellows intact protects the steering feel, helps tyre wear stay even and prevents costly rack damage.

Good practice for Aussie and Kiwi servicing is to check rack boots at every service interval (roughly every 10,000–15,000 km or 12 months, depending on the schedule being followed). A quick torch inspection can spot perishing, splits at the concertina folds, or loose clamps.

• Signs they need attention: visible cracks or tears, grease flung around the inner wheel area, new play in the steering, or a rubber boot that’s gone hard and brittle.
• Replacement tips: replace in pairs if one has failed, always use new clamps, avoid twisting the bellows, and ensure the boot seats properly on the rack housing and inner tie rod.

When a boot is torn, it’s a fix-not-fob-off item. Water ingress can corrode the inner tie rod ball socket or the rack teeth, leading to knock, wander or notchy steering. After replacing a boot and reassembling tie rods, a wheel alignment is recommended—tiny changes at the inner joint can nudge toe settings. Quality matters here: a decent OEM-equivalent boot resists ozone cracking and stands up to our harsh UV and coastal conditions.

A tidy set of rack boots on a 2020 Mazda CX-5 keeps the steering precise, the tyres happy and the big-ticket rack unit out of trouble.

Popular questions about 2020 Mazda CX-5 rack boots

How often should rack boots be checked on a 2020 Mazda CX-5?
They should be eyeballed at every routine service or any time the front end is up for brakes, suspension or alignment. Australia and New Zealand conditions—heat, UV and road grime—can age the rubber faster, so regular inspections are cheap insurance.

Do torn rack boots fail a WOF/RWC?
Yes, a split boot can cause a Warrant of Fitness or Roadworthy failure because it exposes steering components to contamination. Even if it squeaks through, leaving it torn risks inner tie rod and rack damage, which is far costlier than a boot and clamps.

Do you need a wheel alignment after replacing rack boots?
It’s strongly recommended. Any disturbance of the inner or outer tie rods can shift toe slightly. An alignment brings the steering back on spec and helps protect tyre life.