Re: tie rod end

[Kneale Brownson <knotnook@traverse.com>]

If the alignment is satisfactory, I'd just go get another boot (probably a
couple bucks) and replace the torn one if you're worried about it.  

Kneale Brownson


At 08:32 PM 8/3/99 -0500, Ron Mruss wrote:
>I had a wheel alignment done last week, and one new tie rod end installed.  
>Because the mechanic had problems doing the alignment, he had to pull the 
>tie rod out after he'd already installed the tie rod end, using a two 
>pronged puller.  I took a close look at it today.  It has a larger boot on 
>it than the one on the other side.  I peeled back the boot and underneath 
>there was some grease and the original boot is torn.
>
>I don't know, but I'm guessing that the original boot is/was to keep the 
>grease around the ball bearing while still allowing the tie rod to move.  
>Tearing it seems to be a bad thing to me, one that will shorten the lifespan 
>of the tie rod, which seems short enough already, judging by how many times 
>they've already been changed.  Should I take the car back in and get another 
>tie rod end put in (at their cost) or ask for some sort of discount?  I 
>didn't mention anything at the time because I'd just watched the mechanic 
>spend two hours doing the alignment (swearing profusely) and figured I'd 
>leave it alone.  BTW, I didn't get charged extra even though the alignment 
>took forever.
>
>Thanks,
>
>
>Jeff Mruss
>'84 5KS