Tie-Rod end question...

CapitalTruck · April 24, 2015

I was changing my oil the other day and saw a bunch of grease inside one of the wheels. Took wheel off (to see what front end component was leaking grease), found tie rod boot leaking grease. Put some more in, it shot out of the boot at a point along the circumference of the grease boot where the rubber boot meets the metal tie-rod end. Does this mean the tie-rod end is shot?

gmtech4 · April 24, 2015

I was changing my oil the other day and saw a bunch of grease inside one of the wheels. Took wheel off (to see what front end component was leaking grease), found tie rod boot leaking grease. Put some more in, it shot out of the boot at a point along the circumference of the grease boot where the rubber boot meets the metal tie-rod end. Does this mean the tie-rod end is shot?

Yup , to quote service info. " if the boot is torn , replace the componant "

Easy to call All day long

brucelimerick · April 24, 2015

Doesn't sound like the boot is torn. A tie rod is only "shot" when it is sloppy. If you grab the tie rod and try top move it does it move, click? What could have happened is the idiot who put the last grease on it put way too much in and it blew out the seal around the tie rod. If there is no slop in the tie rod clean all the grease off it and the tire. See what happens. When you grease any seal you go slow and stop once a tiny bit begins to emerge from the seal around the tie rod. A grease gun can pump 1000 psi, no rubber seal can hold it. A big glop will drop on the tire and with driving will cover most of the tire and attract dirt. That is how amateurs work. Pro's will clean the little dab of grease off the boot and all is good. BTW a boot shouldn't tear, normally. Give it a little squeeze, if the boot is bad you will see the cracks in the rubber when you flex it. Normally the tie rod goes before the boot.

gmtech4 · April 24, 2015

Doesn't sound like the boot is torn. A tie rod is only "shot" when it is sloppy. If you grab the tie rod and try top move it does it move, click? What could have happened is the idiot who put the last grease on it put way too much in and it blew out the seal around the tie rod. If there is no slop in the tie rod clean all the grease off it and the tire. See what happens. When you grease any seal you go slow and stop once a tiny bit begins to emerge from the seal around the tie rod. A grease gun can pump 1000 psi, no rubber seal can hold it. A big glop will drop on the tire and with driving will cover most of the tire and attract dirt. That is how amateurs work. Pro's will clean the little dab of grease off the boot and all is good. BTW a boot shouldn't tear, normally. Give it a little squeeze, if the boot is bad you will see the cracks in the rubber when you flex it. Normally the tie rod goes before the boot.

i

Are you a technician ?

brucelimerick · April 24, 2015

mechanical engineer with 45 years working on machinery

00Silverado4x4 · April 24, 2015

The tie rod may not be "shot" but with a torn boot it won't last long....grease runs out, tie rod goes dry, tie rod wears from dry metal to metal contact, tie rod failure. The tie rods on these vehicles are relatively inexpensive, so if you have a torn/busted boot I'd just go ahead and replace the tie rod. That's what I did when I bought my truck. The boots on the inner tie rod were virtually not existent and the outer were worn so I just replaced them all.

BlackZ71Silverado · April 25, 2015

mechanical engineer with 45 years working on machinery

Nice that you tried to help.

Govtech always throws out service/repair manual quotes, along with the go to the dealership and are you a GM tech. stuff. There are many guys/gals here who know a ton about their vehicles and do their own repairs and that's why this forum is great.

You don't need to be a GM tech. or work in a stealership service dept. to know how to properly diagnose and repair vehicles. Most of these tech's at the dealership don't know much anyway. They can do more damage than good sometimes, I have experienced this first hand.

To his credit, the quote he posted is correct. If the boot is leaking grease and it can clearly be seen through a crack, hole, or tear, it needs replaced.

Sent from my crappy iPhone 6

using Tapatalk

brucelimerick · April 25, 2015

The tie rod may not be "shot" but with a torn boot it won't last long....grease runs out, tie rod goes dry, tie rod wears from dry metal to metal contact, tie rod failure. The tie rods on these vehicles are relatively inexpensive, so if you have a torn/busted boot I'd just go ahead and replace the tie rod. That's what I did when I bought my truck. The boots on the inner tie rod were virtually not existent and the outer were worn so I just replaced them all.

True depending on what it is and how hot it gets. Tie rods don't get hot so the grease doesn't flow out. Tie rods are not expensive but when you replace them you should do a wheel alignment. If that isn't right then you are talking inner and outers on both sides and a pair of tires. Expense just went way up.

I still don't believe the boot was bad. From the description it sounded like too much grease. That can be as big a problem as too little. All the boot and grease it holds does is keep dirt out of the ball joint. The other thing that should be done is the grease fitting should be cleaned before you grease the joint. That way you don't push grit directly into the joint with the grease gun. That is much worse than a torn boot.

It is hard to diagnose without pictures or being there. But I provided enough information to run through the various possibilities.

CapitalTruck · April 26, 2015

Hey, thanks for the responses. It was grease coming out from some hole I couldn't even see. Maybe just a result of over-greasing. I wiped the grease off and pumped a little more in. It started to spurt out again in an amount equivalent to if you were squeezing out a tube of thread sealer. Sounds like the joint might not be bad? The only thing that worries me is the amount that clearly had come out at one point. I don't know so much could have come out. There are no tears or anything I can see. Next time I get a chance I'll take a picture...not to much to see though. It was just the quantity of grease in the wheel that freaked me out. I didn't know you were supposed to see any grease come out of a joint when you greased it. I always just greased it until I could see the seal start to bulge slightly.

brucelimerick · April 26, 2015

You are doing it correctly. Eventually the boot will fill and you will get a little grease come out. The boot or the grease in it have nothing to do with the joint being worn. To check them you need a pry bar, heavy hand pressure is not enough.

I would think everything is ok and do the wait and see. Clean the tire up. A brake seal leaking could do the same thing to the tire rim.

CapitalTruck · May 2, 2015

Damn thing puked its whole grease load again. I guess I'll have to replace it. Ordered some new ones from group1auto parts for 60 bucks each. (OEM). Got something to do tomorrow I suppose.

Bob D · May 2, 2015

...60 bucks each. (OEM)...

Good luck. $60 Sounds kinda high, though.

CapitalTruck · May 2, 2015

You ever price OEMs at dealership? Way more. Place near me wanted $120.00!

Bob D · May 2, 2015

I believe you. Another reason to DIY.

Reason I questioned; Moogs are +/- $50 (a pair).

Cheers

CapitalTruck · May 3, 2015

Found another plus to OEM...they are exactly the same dimensions as the ones I took off, which greatly reduces adverse effects on alignment after the replacement. I'll still get it done, but after doing one side I can detect no difference.