Hi Guys,

I noticed the rubber boots are ruptured and leaking grease as circled in the pic. Should I replace the bars (don't know what they're called) that are labeled 1 and 2, or should I just replace the boots which I assume are tie rod ends???? They are original with @ 280k miles on them for what it's worth.

Thanks in advance for your help!!

Andy

Attached Thumbnails

 

If they aren't leaking that bad and the tie-rod ends are still tight, you can just drive on.

New tie-rod ends come with boots, so if you replace them, your leak problem is solved.

There really shouldn't be a leak per say but as you add grease through the zirt it will bulge the boot out and a slight amount will come out on either the top of the bottom. If you don't wipe it off I guess that some would call it a leak. But the grease should be heavy enough that it won't actually drip.

Thanks guys. It doesn't drip per say, but the rubber boots are ripped and have peeled back a bit. Is this operable or should I replace them?

If they're ripped open, they should probably be replaced. Have the tie-rod ends ever been replaced? If not, it's probably time. You might be able to find the boots separately, but you'd have to get the tie rod ends loose anyhow, so might as well replace the joints along with the boots.

They've not been replaced in the 13 years I've owned the truck. I'll go ahead and buy some in that case. How does this look?

https://www.1aauto.com/1985-97-ford-...=913001&y=1995

I think that for the front end parts I would stick with a company such as Mogg.

This is one area that you don't want the part to fail when you are traveling at 60 mph.

What bugman said. Get name brand stuff.

Will do, and thanks!!! I have no idea what name brands are other than OEM, so that tip is invaluable... especially as you say, going down the road at 60!

Also if you have never replaced tie rods and tie rod ends be real careful.

Usually the tie rods themselves are not bad. All they consist of is a metal bar with threads on the ends with a adjustment.

But when you take out one of the ends, count the rotations as you unscrew it. Then place the new one in and count the rotations until it is the same as the old one. Do this on all of them.

Then once you get it all done take it into a alignment shop and get it aligned. If you do it careful it should be close.

An easy way to get the tie rod ends out (at least the ones that are vertical with the nuts on the bottom) is to use a jack to put some pressure on after backing the nut flush with the end of the stud, and then smacking one side of the eye while holding a bigger hammer against the other side. They usually pop loose that way. Normally, a pickle fork is used, but they tend to tear things up if not used correctly. Easy to mess something up with a pickle fork.

Will do, thanks again!!

If this were mine, I'd just do the whole front end at the same time - ball joints, inner / outer tie rod ends, track bar bushings, sway bar bushings - just get it done and pay for one alignment. MOOG is good. I wouldn't hesitate to use Motorcraft it the price is better. Rockauto has good prices.

Look at the bottom of this page:
https://www.energysuspensionparts.co...cri=8,1&filter

Those are vastly better than OE or OEM or any other on the market.