STEERING RACK GAITERS (updated April 2024)
by Lorne Goldman

The JK and Quaife gaiters are very distinct. The traditional JK gaiter is one piece with 2 end cones.The Quaife affair has an anodized metal centre piece, two pleated gaiters and two end cones, something similar can be obtained from Jack Knight, (UK) if you can reach them, or André Koopman (Germany). 

 If they split, there is no immediate danger involved, though it is a MOT failure. These racks are so simple and solid that, as you have already discovered, they work fine with or without the gaiter. But, on the longer term, you do want your rack's innards to be clean and lubricated ASAP. But if you put on grease, expect the insides of your rack to be covered with road debris fairly quickly. The grease acts like flypaper.

QUAIFE GAITER

The current configuration has been used since soon after the Quaife was adopted Morgan in 2005. 

On the Quaife side, I do not believe they produce these gaiters themselves. They likely buy them from a jobber. And if they did produce gaiters, they are prohibited from selling them direct to us. But it is not difficult to find them from an auto parts jobber or source a generic gaiter off ebay. You simply need the two piece format and they can all be trimmed to suit. Feedback from owner 
indicate that they are flimsy as well and subject to frequent leaking. I suggest one moves to the much better (cheaper) generic gaiters one can find on the internet. There has been great feedback on these. The price of the flimsy Quaife gaiters is a scandal

JACK KNIGHT CENTRAL GAITER 

These are a more serious problem The JK single central gaiter were made on a JK bespoke moulding by laminating silicone on it and then peeling it off. They are flimsy as hell with a number of important watchpoints to them if you want them to last beyond the installation. (See other aricles on GoMoG) There was a new upgraded version, similar to the Quaife, advertised on their site which has sadly disappeared again. It was very good. Jack Knight is not currently responsive. This is a great pity as there are about 8000+ Jack Knight Morgans out there and the last JK fellow COULD refurbish them, or change their turns-to-lock to a variety of options. He could even decrease the turning circle so that the wheels do not damage wings without a steering limiter involved. With many later trad Morgans (post 2000) the MMC staff forgot to fit their steering limiter on most cars. which commonly damages the Superform wings with the friction heat, and often burning the exterior paint off or producing sad heat bubbles (not to be confused with the Superform paint bubbles (1996 to 2006ish). That being said, since I learned the watchpoints (described here)  in installing these dubious original JK gaiters properly, I have been using the current one on the car for the last decade without a problem, and being me, I long ago put an extra in spares when they were still easily available. However, as soon as the current one fails, I will switch to the more modern format using non-MMC noon-Quaife, non-JK generic gaiters. 

A Quaife style replacement for the JK gaiter is made by dear André Koopmann,  a famous Morgan stalwart in Germany. (He speaks impeccable English, charming fellow and an extraordinary Plus 8 owner). However, I will come up with instructions for the home garagiste to replace their existing gaiter. It is not a difficult task, though the current generation of moggers, especially UK/Europeans with very notable exceptions, is exceedingly gunshy at the prospect of dealing directly with their trads  :( Bad timing as competent mechanics are very rare in the western world now and they can finally charge whatever they choose. (I am a competent mechanic fan!) These things are not rocket science. I have removed both Jack Knights and a Quaife R&Ps. If I can, anyone can.(wryly) No need to spend lots of money and take up the precious time of Morgan dealers. I will walk anyone who chooses to try through it. Np.  

 
AFTERMARKET GAITERS

These are usually excellent, much higher quality than anything supplied to the MMC.

1. An excellent choice for UK moggers was recently recommended on Talk Morgan. https://www.carbuilder.com/uk/universal-steering-rack-gaiter-2-black

2. There may be something equally as good in NA, coming in two colors, blue and black. But check out the extended length for us.

IMPORTANT WATCHPOINT 1: Jack Knight Steering Rack END GAITERS (the cones). Just like the Jack Knight Centre Gaiter discussed below, Owners/Dealers very often ruin them by an improper installation installation.The error made is simple. The installer pushes the cones on too far rather than using the intent on the cones and matching it to the clip (or tie-wrap) indent at the end of rack. At the first full turn, the pinion pokes through the gaiter. They promptly leak after that, eventually damaging the pinion for lack of any lubrication.  A ripped end gaiter or cone will also allow road grit to enter the rack, damaging it and prejudicing steering making it difficult to steer. N.B. I am at present looking for a smarter replacement for this part. As I describe, they are far too fragile and so often destroyed in installation. Ideally the replacement would be a bellows type with a closed end and a tie-wrappable end of the approximate ID to secure on the rack.  There is no reason to keep paying an enormous amount for an deeply inferior product. Please contact me if you run across something promising. :)

I am searching for a credible replacement for these cones. Ideally it would be a bellows type that would eliminate the

INTERIM SOLUTION

In extremis, you can use a bit of fishing line with a needle and sew what you have back up. You can also cover the new seam with bicycle repair rubber glue and let it cure overnight. Then re-attach the gaiters to the center with new tie-wraps  (the early clips went out of style with the Factory 30 years ago. That will keep the debris out and last anywhere from a day to the end of the car's life.

REMOVING AND REPLACING THE JACK KNIGHT CENTER GAITER 

Do not fret about installing a new gaiter of any kind. 

With the original Jack Knight full gaiter, I found a way to to so in situ. 

1. Mark your front tyre position on the ground with chalk

2. Remove the nuts and bolts attaching the tie-rods to the center plate. You now have access to the bolts going from the late into the rack.

3. Detach the center plate from from the rack

4. Remove the clips or tie-wraps on the gaiter ends. 

5. Remove the offside holding bracket holding the R&P to the cross-frame.

6. Then I slip (fiddle) the entire gaiter off that side as one would a sock.  

7. Installation is the opposite of removal. 

8. Be careful to position the internal spacers in the rack to match the holes in the gaiter system and pay attention to THIS watchpoint 

9. Have your alignment checked. Even the minor bolt hole leeway in the bolt holes to the center plate and the center plate to the rack can change your steering dynamics. Morgan dealers do not always do this.