What is this??? should i replace it???

[GTI_Notts]

hi all

i am new to this forum as i recently bought a 1997 golf gti mk3 8v.. it runs a bit rough so i've checked the air flow sensor and reckon it could be that as it improved the cars pull a bit.. also it sounds like the manifold could be leaking a bit somewhere making it sound a bit rough... when looking around the top of the manifold for and holes etc i realised there is a kind of rubber pipe coming up next to the manifold on the left hand side (looking from front of car to rear).. this pipe has a big hole in it as shown in my photo.

just wanted to know what this is and if it is necessary to replace it as i'm not that mechanically minded and not sure if this would have anything to do with it running rough or not..

any help would be greatly appreciated.. thanks in advance!! 

gr8 forum by the way its been alot of help to me already!!!   

[Mikester]

Thats the boot that protects the steering joint from the steering coloum to the rack.

I would replace that asap, as it stops dirt from getting into the joint, which should be kept greased.

With a hole its not going to be doing the joint any good.

[GTI_Notts]

oh right!! i'll sort that out quicktime then... thanks alot man!!!