Tie Rod Question

[SwaintaN]

I put on Moog Tie rods last year, ive been hearing a loud pop noise every now an then taking a left turn. Well crawled under truck several times, finally noticed the passenger side tie rod boot came off, do I need to put a new one on or just let it go?

[Maniak]

The boot helps keep the road grime out of it. You should have the boot on there or your going to be changing it very soon.

~Mark

[SwaintaN]

the boot is on there now but it has a slit in it, know where i can get a new set of boots for it and how to replace em without screwing up alignment

[TedJ]

Did you determine if the popping is from the tie rod end? If it is just replace it, the new ones come with the boot. If you measure carefully, you should be able to reinstall the new one at about the same length. I would suggest getting an alignment afterwords anyway.

If you just want to replace the boot, get a new one (not sure where to get it) and a replacement cotter pin (don't re-use the old one). Then take the cotter pin out and back the nut off until it is flush with the top of the stud. Whack it with the big hammer to break the taper free, and remove the nut all the way. Then wipe off as much of the contaminated grease as you can, put the new boot on, and reverse the process. Use a torque wrench when tightening it, and then reinstall the cotter pin. Finish by greasing it...

As long as you do not change the adjustment collar you won't alter the alignment.

[SwaintaN]

No im not exactly sure that is where the poping sound is coming from, just really assumed it... cause it only happens (sound from passenger side) when turning left, not always, happens when it wants at different speeds etc. i drove for 4 hours making left/right turns, at all different speeds, with a friend in the car, never heard it... we pulled into drive way, heard it.. back out, pulled in.. didnt make the noise, so not really sure if its that just taking a wild guess.. cause i saw the boot came off..

[TedJ]

Try jacking the truck up, grabbing the tire (at 9 and 3) and then try to wiggle it from side to side and top to bottom (at 12 and 6) You will be able to feel and see the play if there is any in the suspension components. You might need an assistant with a light to really determine the source.

[SwaintaN]

done that, tested to make sure bearings werent going again, let it off the stands, i stood in driver side door and rocked the living sh..... out of the ex and still didnt hear the noise, tried with wheel at full lock right and full lock left

[TedJ]

If it passes the wiggle test then it's probably ok. You can ususally tell right away if you have bad bearings, ball joints, or tie rod ends doing that.

Have you checked the radius arm bushings and sway bar links? Bowling ball rolling around in the back?

I would replace the boot anyway, the tie rod end will die quickly without it. I'm still trying to figure out how you managed to loose the boot on a brand new tie rod end?

[SwaintaN]

Ha, no bowling ball, and not sure either... its on there but has a slit in it... i found the "gingle" noise... that was pinned right down to a 5 dollar part and 15 min fix, but that poping noise... ill look up how to replace the boot and find a boot to put on it, not sure how i ripped it either, there is less then 2k miles on those tie rods

[TedJ]

FYI Moog is lifetime warranty, IDK if they will cover the boot though... and you will probably need the receipt.

[SwaintaN]

lol well if i dont have it i know Advance does, everytime i go in there they are asking if i still got this or that... but i should have it

[SwaintaN]

i replaced em with red poly boots, when i took the boots off i went ahead and did both because my luck is fix the broken one and the other would break... well the boot that ripped didnt say Moog on it and look WAY different then the driver side on that said Moog and looked alot better... well now both red polys so should be good, but now I got another question that ties into tie rods...


If I grab the outer tie rod i can rock it back and forth, not alot but noticeable by hand, am I suppose to be able to do that?

[TedJ]

What do you mean back and forth? It will rotate or tilt to whatever angle (it is a ball in a socket after all)

As long as there is no slop between the tie rod and the knuckle it is ok.... a picture showing the way you are rocking it would be helpful.

[Willard]

If I can high-jack for a second...

You said you had a loud pop when turning. I have the same problem. Ball joints are old, but don't have bad play (a little, but definitely acceptable). So I'm guessing this means I should look at my tie rod ends?

/highjack

[Tremblor]

i had the exsact same problem, it's the radius arm bushings.

[Tremblor]

,and if they have been done before and are held in by a large 1 and 1/8 inch bolts, then you are in luck. easy as pie to change.

[Willard]

Thanks, that could very well be the case. Might try that first since it's cheaper.

Now back to the regularly scheduled thread.

[SwaintaN]

Ball joints good, just replaced no play, rad bushings good, no slop, havent heard the pop sound since i changed the busted boot and readded grease.


tie rod, i can grab it at the sleeve and lean back towards rear tires and front towards the front, so from front to back but not a twisting motion

lol kinda like lean wit it rock wit it motion

i understand they are a ball joint style that is why i was asking, never really messed with any thing like this till i bought the ex...

[EMG7895]

Bringing this back up, I put 2 new moog tie rod ends on my truck in late may/early june. Fast forward to today and the passenger side one is split wide open. Where did you find new boots?

[SwaintaN]

yeah same problem i had, Summit had them in polyurethane.