It's number 2 in this picture. Is it necessary to connect it to the tie rod boots? It is a MAJOR pita, as the nipple on the tie rod boot is soft, and the hose rubber is relatively hard.

 

It's obviously there to help equalize the air pressure in the boots more quickly as one compresses and the other extends.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Targa250R &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">It's obviously there to help equalize the air pressure in the boots more quickly as one compresses and the other extends.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Ditto and without it you are prone to sucking in nasties into the freshly replaced boot every time you rotate that steering wheel. Try adding a dab of oil in the hose.

 

Hrmm, I found that the hose was disconnected from the boot that was torn. Maybe some funk got into there.

Either way, I don't know why they made the hose so bloody short. I wonder if using replacement silicone hoses will collapse under the heat, if there is any in that area.