Thanks Len,

I have learned that replacement of the boot/seal is rather trivial, you just need to loosen the bolt which holds the steering shaft clamped in the coupler, back it out, R&R the seal and re-clamp it down. The shaft has enough movement to allow it without having to touch anything on the cabin-side of the firwall since it has the extension feature that has a link to allow the shaft to move away from the coupling. I'm ordering the parts and special grease and will replace it the next time I have the car up on the lift to get rid of that nasty draft.

As for my car, I think the seal just disintegrated and failed since I had never noticed a draft before a couple of months ago and it is the kind of thing I'd have noticed in the 2 prior years I drove it.

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Marty D.

2013 C300 4Matic
1984 BMW 733i
2013 Lincoln MKz