Difficulty installing new tie rod bellows

[Gator]

I have a 2000 996 C2. I'm installing a new drivers side inner tie rod and decided to install a fresh bellows. My problem? I just can't get the larger end of the new bellows over the lip of the steering rack frame. The tip of the bellows is sufficiently wide enough and goes over the end of the rack about an 1/16th of an inch but I just can't get the full lip of the bellows up and onto the frame. It needs to go on about 1/2" or so. When I try to push it on further one side or another just flops back off. I've tried turning (rotating the bellows) as I try to push it on. I've also tried lubricating, warming, and stretching it by hand but to no avail. I even took the new inner tie rod back off to see if that'd give me better leverage (just to see if I could even get it on that way). I also have the rack turned so that the inner tie rod knuckle is right up against the frame so that I have better leverage.

Side by side the new and old bellows are identical down to the TRW stamps with the exception that the lip of the bellows that goes over the frame narrows slightly in the middle of the section where the hose clamp would rest (if I could get it on the frame).

The bellows is the correct part and OEM.

It is in the low 60's here this week.

My question: any tips for getting the new belows up over that lip? Should I just wait for a nice balmy 100 degree day and leave the bellows in the sun prior to trying to install it?

I've gone ahead and put the rod assembly back together with the old bellows (no cracks) but want to do the other side and then come back and replace this bellows. Thus, I would like to figure this out.

Thanks in advance,

GA

[fpb111]

I had the same problem with our Mercedes ML. I boiled the bellows to get it hot and then used the little tube of rubber lube that came with it. It was still a fight to get the bellows over the "O" ring. Mercedes has a thin "O" ring at the end of the rack to help seal the bellows. I had to slide the Oetiker clamp onto bellows and then slide the bellows over the rack. Then I greased the outside of the bellows and slid the clamp over the bellows\rack.