Hi Guys,

I recently changed my wheels and noticed that the boot on the outer tie rod has ripped. I drove it today and didn't notice anything significant other than a flighty steering wheel response. Could the boot be causing this issue?

If I were to replace this what other part should be changed in the process?

Can I continue to drive the car like this or should this be changed immediately?

Passenger Front Tie Rod

 

remove the cotter pin, remove the tie rod from the knuckle. Feel for play and looseness. Its my experience that it should be fairly stiff with no play. If the boot just split and no water infiltrated the tie rod end, you may just need to remove the rubber seal, clean, and regrease. But, if its rusted and loose, then replace the outer tie rod end. They are fairly easy to replace.
I mean, I wouldn't want to be driving on it for long in its current condition.

darcy

 

Just replace the tie rod end. The oem boot is like 15 and a new tie rod end was 38.

 

...and to state the obvious, get alignment if you replace the tie rod or change threaded adjustment at all.

If joint is still good, you can just replace boot, add some fresh grease as good measure, reinstall toe rod and no alignment needed.

 

If you do buy a tie rod, buy one from a Honda dealer

the steering response issue is probably in your head since you just noticed it at the same time as you noticed the torn boot

 

Why Honda? Lots of good tie rod ends out there. I use Moog tie rods on all my cars.

Rod

 

It probably depends on what kind of car you have.

Speaking about Hondas...

Most aftermarket tie rods won't last more than 10K miles if you're lucky. In comparison, there's quite a few 200K+ mile Hondas with factory installed tie rods. And they never needed service or maintenance.

There isn't virtually any aftermarket part that's better made than the factory one for anywhere near the same price point anywhere on this car, if you think about it.

The testing that OEM's do nowadays is impressive. In my experience, its borderline unsafe to go to "OE equivalent" aftermarket replacement chassis parts. That's not being dramatic. Its all quite badly made...

 

if you look at the cost, its not much more for a honda

 

Thanks guys, I think I'll go ahead and just replace the tie rod ends

Does anyone know if there's a difference between the part number for left and right?

The part number I found is 53540-S47-951, there seems to be no indication that these are directional

Are both left and right outer tie rod the same?

 

yes they are the same. One trick is to measure the stock tie rod, i am pretty sure they are the same length. Back off the jam nut just a bit. Count the number of turns to remove the original tie rod. Screw the new one back on, they should be exactly the same amount of turns. This will get you really close to the previous alignment so you can drive it there. Just make sure the tie rod itself doesnt spin (it shouldnt but clamp a vice grip to be sure)