I need to replace a rear ball joint boot cover which I damaged. The manual shows a "special tool" which is some type of tapered device which slips over the rubber boot, down to where the retaining ring fits (to hold the boot on the joint). You place the special tool over the joint and slide the retaining ring down it. The ring expands uniformly as it's slid down the tapered tool, down to the bottom of the boot, where it snaps into place.

I don't have the ability to manufacture such a tool, and am looking for advice on how to get the retaining ring over the boot and onto it's final position without damaging the ring. I removed the original by spreading it by hand (there are no holes in it, so snap ring pliers will not work). After I got the ring off, I noticed that I had permanently opened it a bit (plastic deformation). I purchased a new ring, but do not want to do to it what I did to the original.

Any thoughts?

 

haven't really looked at it before but lock ring pliers won't work (different from snap ring pliers)

 

Got it done with bare hands - what a PITA.....