32-90949T Lower Exhaust Boot 3" Wet Exhaust Bellow Fits MerCruiser sterndrive V6/V8 center rise (Alpha / Bravo)

32-90949T Lower Exhaust Boot — 3" Wet Exhaust Bellow

Fits MerCruiser sterndrive V6/V8 center rise (Alpha / Bravo) · Replaces 32-90949T · Also 18-2761, 89090, 9-72809, REC32-90949T

This is the 3" lower exhaust boot on a MerCruiser sterndrive — the rubber below the elbow on the wet exhaust run. Shop guys call it an exhaust boot; parts books call it 32-90949T. Read the number on the piece you pull off — don't order from memory.

Also crosses to 18-2761, 89090, 9-72809, REC32-90949T.

Where does it go?

Below the elbow, 3" I.D., on the lower wet exhaust hose toward the transom. Not the same as:

·       70981A3 (17B1014) — upper 3" tube above the elbow

·       32-14358T (17B1001) — 4" riser boot in the engine bay

·       32-44348T (17B1002) — 4" upper tube at the transom plate

·       8M0124227 (17B1003) — big boot on the bell housing outside

Wet exhaust = cooling water already mixed in. Crack this boot and you get water in the bilge, not just smoke at the stern.

Replace it if…

·       White smoke or a rough exhaust note at the stern — hole or split in this lower boot lets exhaust out before it clears the back of the boat.

·       Bilge pump kicks on after you run — this hose runs wet exhaust (water + exhaust). A crack dumps water in the bilge. Fix it before you keep boating on it.

·       You smell exhaust in the cockpit or engine bay — don't run it like that. A leak here can pull fumes where people sit.

·       Rubber is soft, cracked, or burnt — impeller failure or no raw water can cook the boot even if it still looks attached. A lot of owners say "my exhaust boot is shot" — read the part number before you order; that nickname fits three different boots on one drive.

·       Quick check while you're under there: rusty clamps, hard old rubber, black soot at the joint. Leak at the riser elbow → look at 17B1001. Leak at the big boot outside the transom → look at 17B1003. This listing is only the 3" lower piece below the elbow.

Will it fit my drive?

HP on the engine tag won't tell you. Match the drive or transom serial and the 3" part number on the old rubber.

Drive / setup	Years	What to check	Part #	Notes
MerCruiser sterndrive center rise	1998–present	3" lower boot below elbow — read drive/transom tag	32-90949T	Not the 4" riser piece, not the big transom boot
MerCruiser Alpha center rise	1998–present	190–260 HP common; match old part #	32-90949T	3" I.D. on the rubber you pull off
MerCruiser Bravo center rise	1998–present	260–430 HP range; read serial on drive	32-90949T	Same 3" lower boot family
MerCruiser 4.3L V6	1998–present	190 HP class — HP alone won't tell you	32-90949T	Must say 32-90949T or measure 3" I.D.

 

Part numbers

OEM is 32-90949T (same family as 32-90949 without the T). Swaps that usually match:

Type	Part Number	Notes
OEM	32-90949T	Primary — 3 inch I.D. lower exhaust bellow
OEM	32-90949	Same family without T suffix
Cross-ref	18-2761	Lower exhaust tube / bellow interchange
Cross-ref	89090	Lower 3 inch exhaust bellow interchange
Cross-ref	9-72809	Exhaust bellow tube cross-reference
Cross-ref	REC32-90949T	Alternate catalog numbering for 32-90949T

 

Wrong boot? Check before you buy

3" and 4" get mixed up all the time. Need size + where it sits + part #:

·       70981A3 / GHMarine 17B1014 — upper 3" tube above the elbow, not this lower piece.

·       32-14358T / GHMarine 17B1001 — 4" riser elbow-to-Y boot up in the engine bay.

·       32-44348T / GHMarine 17B1002 — 4" upper tube at the inner transom plate (both ends 4").

·       8M0124227 / GHMarine 17B1003 — big rubber boot on the bell housing outside the transom (drive usually comes off for that one).

In the box

·       1 × 3" lower exhaust bellow (32-90949T family)

·       Hose clamps — if they're in the product photos

·       Not included: bellow adhesive, expander 91-45497A1, other exhaust boots

While the drive is off…

Most shops look at the whole exhaust rubber stack:

·       Upper 3" tube — GHMarine 17B1014 (70981A3)

·       4" upper tube — GHMarine 17B1002 (32-44348T)

·       Bell housing boot — GHMarine 17B1003 (8M0124227)

·       4" riser boot — GHMarine 17B1001 (32-14358T)

Install (shop tips)

Work with ventilation. On many boats you pull the drive to reach this boot. This one gets glued on — not the soap-and-clamp trick you use on the riser boot (17B1001) or the 4" upper tube (17B1002).

Grab before you start

·       Marine bellows adhesive (3M Bellows Adhesive or same type — not RTV)

·       Expander tool 91-45497A1 if the stub is tight

·       Hose clamps, wire brush, rags

Steps

1. Pull the drive if you need room. Loosen both clamps on the old lower boot.

2. Wire-brush the stubs; get off old glue, oil, and scale.

3. Glue inside both ends of the new boot; wait until tacky (about 10–20 min).

4. Slide it on both flanges; use the expander if it's fighting you. Clamps in the grooves, snug even.

5. Put the drive back. Run on muffs or in the water — check stern and bilge for leaks.

FAQ

Everybody calls it an "exhaust boot" — is this the one?

Maybe. Same nickname gets used for the big transom boot (8M0124227), the 4" riser boot (32-14358T), and this 3" lower boot. Pull the old rubber and read the number — this page is only for 32-90949T.

How do I know 3 inch vs 4 inch?

Measure the inside diameter of what you removed. 32-90949T = 3" lower. 32-14358T = 4" at the riser. 32-44348T = 4" upper tube. Part number beats guessing.

Is this the same as the upper 3" tube (70981A3)?

No. 70981A3 is above the elbow. This one is below the elbow on the lower run. Both can be 3" — position matters.

Glue and expander tool — do I need them?

Usually yes on this lower boot: marine bellows adhesive on both ends, let it tack up, then seat it. Expander 91-45497A1 helps on tight stubs. Don't use RTV silicone — it doesn't hold up like bellow adhesive.

Lower looks bad — should I do the upper rubber too?

You can buy just this lower boot, but if the upper 3" or 4" neighbor is old and cracked, plan to do the whole stack while the drive is off. Saves a second pull later.

What's in the box?

One 3" lower exhaust bellow. Clamps if shown in the photos. No glue, no expander tool, no bell-housing or riser boots.

Note

Aftermarket replacement. Not made by the engine maker. "Compatible with" and "Replaces" mean it fits like the OEM part — still match your serial tag and the number on the rubber you removed.