Outer Tie Rod Seal

Plainsman · October 29, 2009

Hello, changing oil last night I noticed the outer tierod boot was busted. It looks like somone went wild with grease at one point as the seam is popped out. Can you just replace that seal or do you have to replace the tie rod?

txab · October 29, 2009

Replacement of the tie rod end is usually the best thing to do. You can find "replacement", generic, rubber boots. Those might work. I know for me, I'd replace the end. Since you have to pop the TRE loose anyway, replacing the TRE is not much more. You don't state year and mileage. It may be time for replacement of the TRE anyway.

Plainsman · October 29, 2009

2003 1500HD with 50,000, there is no slop so I think its sound. Just the dead boot. If you spin on another end I suppose you have to align it again? How much is an end?

ShoddyHog · October 29, 2009

I'm not a pro mechanic, but I've always replaced them. Once the boot cracks, I assume the grease is contaminated, and if I replaced just the boot I'd end up doing it again soon anyway. I've also had it aligned each time, but not always right away. If you are careful and do some measuring, you can get it pretty close to what it was.

They're usually pretty cheap (less than $30?) for cars...don't know about our trucks.

Gerry

txab · October 29, 2009

2003 1500HD with 50,000, there is no slop so I think its sound. Just the dead boot. If you spin on another end I suppose you have to align it again? How much is an end?

Go to Rockauto.com and look it up

Plainsman · October 30, 2009

2003 1500HD with 50,000, there is no slop so I think its sound. Just the dead boot. If you spin on another end I suppose you have to align it again? How much is an end?

Go to Rockauto.com and look it up

Perfect, looks about 30-50$. Really I hope the dealer just replaces it since its never been serviced by anyone but them and it looks like it was way overloaded at one point. Have to see, good its cheap regardless.

Thanks for the tip on the site.

dlstewart01 · October 30, 2009

I replaced both my outers and inners and with some damn good measuring got them back almost perfect. The alignment guy said it was only out a very small fraction.