Do you have the stub shaft of the rack facing the correct direction to meet up w/ the IS? There is a cutout in the stub shaft that the bolt goes through. Has to line up perfectly or it won't go.
I just put my new rack in my 00 GT yesterday. After fighting with that stupid boot/cover for longer than 2 hours, I just said f it and cut 2 vertical slots in it about 1 1/2" apart from each other and about 2 inches high thus creating a "flap" that I could use to get the shaft realigned. Dropped right in.
The issue with the boot seemed to be that in order to get something in there to line them up you have to have the boot kinda cocked to one side, but then the boot runs into the joint at the shaft and you cannot get it straight. This flap allowed me room to get my index finger in there and get the shaft lined up while keeping the boot out of the way. Then I just used a pry bar to force the IS back onto the rack and bolted up. Done. After I was done I moved the boot back in place, wrapped a zip tie around the base, then RTV'd the 2 slots that I had cut in it.
BTW, there are 2 metal rings at the end of the boot that I had to cut through. It was a b*tch, but it can be done. I used a sharp pair of sheet metal shears. Could probably use a pair of wire cutters too I guess.
This may not be the preferred method, but that mf boot was pissing me off and I only had one day to get it all done.
I just put my new rack in my 00 GT yesterday. After fighting with that stupid boot/cover for longer than 2 hours, I just said f it and cut 2 vertical slots in it about 1 1/2" apart from each other and about 2 inches high thus creating a "flap" that I could use to get the shaft realigned. Dropped right in.
The issue with the boot seemed to be that in order to get something in there to line them up you have to have the boot kinda cocked to one side, but then the boot runs into the joint at the shaft and you cannot get it straight. This flap allowed me room to get my index finger in there and get the shaft lined up while keeping the boot out of the way. Then I just used a pry bar to force the IS back onto the rack and bolted up. Done. After I was done I moved the boot back in place, wrapped a zip tie around the base, then RTV'd the 2 slots that I had cut in it.
BTW, there are 2 metal rings at the end of the boot that I had to cut through. It was a b*tch, but it can be done. I used a sharp pair of sheet metal shears. Could probably use a pair of wire cutters too I guess.
This may not be the preferred method, but that mf boot was pissing me off and I only had one day to get it all done.