Re: tie rod end

[MSV96@aol.com]

In a message dated 8/3/99 Ron Mruss <rmruss@pangea.ca> writes:

<< 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. >>

Seems to me if he wrecked your new tie rod end that he should fess up and 
make good rather than trying to hide it with another boot. Regardless of how 
long it took to do the job at a fixed rate, hiding the boo-boo is wrong. One 
should pay for their own incompetence... 

Assuming the extra boot seals out crud and seals in grease, it *may* be okay. 
That said, find another alignment shop next time. I feel for you as the last 
time someone besides me worked on my car, I ended up with a torn tie rod boot 
as well.

Mike Veglia
87 5kcstq