changing tie rod boots: how?

[snocross1985]

Well it has come time for me to change my tie rod boots. Mine are all cracked and collapsed and won't hold grease for very long. I am going to be changing them with the Energy Suspension poly bushings. I have tried searching here and loking in my Haynes manual, but to no avail. Can anyone tell me how to go about changing these? Any special tools needed? I am pretty good when it comes to working on the old girl and refuse to have it done by a mechanic. So all the help you can offer me is greatly appreciated.

 

[SteveVB]

Just pull the tie rod ends off, and pull the boots off and replace.
I run the nut up to the top of the threads and then smack the nut with a big brass hammer. With the nut up on the top of the stud you wont destroy the threads on the end. Then you just need to pry the old seal off clean it up and I usually push new grease into it before I install the new boot. Reinstall. torque to specs, add a new cotter, grease and you are done.
Never used the poly boots be interested to see how they work.

 

[snocross1985]

I'll let you know how they work. Hopefully I can do this as well as replace my shocks on friday while I have the day off. Thanks for your help.

 

[Rhett]

I run the nut up to the top of the threads and then smack the nut with a big brass hammer. With the nut up on the top of the stud you wont destroy the threads on the end.

You mean the castle nut on the underside of the tie rod end? So, a person should be able to hit the tie rod bolt with a hammer upwards, and the whole tie rod end should come off?

 

[DeRocha]

Yes... by leaving the castle nut on it will protect the outer tie rod threads from getting mangled if you miss with the hammer You could also remove the castle nut completely and put a block of wood over the tie rod to do the same thing...

 

[Rhett]

Funny how I used the block of wood and banged it several times and yet the tie rod still did not come off. I guess I didn't hit it hard enough...

or

"get a bigger hammer!"

 

[Chew_12]

Just did mine when I installed the lift. They are real easy to do.

 

[huskyfan23]

Might need to buy new tie-rods also. When I took mine off I couldn't get the nut back on even half way, the balljoint kept spinning.

 

[DeRocha]

Might need to buy new tie-rods also. When I took mine off I couldn't get the nut back on even half way, the balljoint kept spinning.

Same thing happened to me... I couldn't torque the tie rods down. The had 120K on them so it was about time for some new ones anyway...

 

[Chew_12]

interesting...i didnt have a problem at all putting the nuts on..its been 140 k

 

[huskyfan23]

I've barely got 90k, though I did hit those ends real hard, but it was with a rubber mallet.