Rack & Pinion Boot with Aspirator
When hydraulic power steering (HPS) systems route air externally rather than through an internal hollow in the rack, the sealing solution needs to do more than protect against dirt and debris. It must also manage airflow between both boots of the steering system. Trelleborg's rack and pinion boots with aspirator are engineered precisely for this requirement, connecting both sides of the system and balancing internal pressure without the need to drill the rack.
Key benefits
How the aspirator works
The aspirator is a tube welded onto a non-functional area of the boot using a dedicated robotic process. This placement is deliberate: it keeps the boot's geometry intact, so steering behavior remains unchanged when the vehicle is in use.
Once fitted, the aspirator links both boots externally. Air moves from one side to the other through the tube, distributing pressure evenly across the system. This replaces the internal hollow found in other HPS rack designs, offering a practical and cost-effective alternative where no internal channel is available.
Product variants
The boot with aspirator is available in two configurations.
Standard with aspirator
This configuration suits HPS systems where air must circulate externally. The aspirator manages airflow between both boots while the boot itself protects the steering gear in a compact, lightweight format suited to demanding environments.
Anti-snaking Rack & Pinion boots
When HPS systems operate under high pressure, snaking becomes a real risk. The bending it causes can puncture the boot and, in the worst case, lead to a loss of steering. Trelleborg's anti-snaking boot with aspirator addresses this directly: it lets the full system breathe, reducing internal temperatures and lowering pressure across both sides. This cuts deformation risk and resolves snaking, providing complete steering protection at temperatures up to 150 °C.
Engineered to your specifications
Our Technical Centres combine advanced robotics, integrated manufacturing and local engineering expertise to deliver aspirator boot solutions built to your exact specifications
A technology developed and tested by our technical centre
Welding the aspirator accurately and reliably is what makes this product work. The Trelleborg Boots Technical Centre uses unique robotics developed specifically for this process, ensuring the aspirator is positioned and bonded to the exact specification every time.
This capability sits alongside our broader thermoplastic boot production, giving you access to a fully integrated design and manufacturing service. With our global capabilities and local presence, you can develop a solution tailored to your HPS system.
Ready to design your boot with aspirator?
Tell us about your HPS system and we will help you define the right configuration. Whether you need standard or anti-snaking protection, our engineers will design an aspirator boot that balances pressure, protects the steering gear and reduces cost across your system.
