TheSamba.com :: View topic

Thu Sep 22, 2011 2:13 pm

I recently replaced all my tie rod ends. In the process I accidentally tore one of the boots. I did a little searching and found a good replacement for the boots. I installed it today and the fit is great. Thought I'd pass it along in case someone else needs just a boot.

They are Energy Suspension part number 9.13103 and can be bought at http://www.energysuspensionparts.com/proddetail.asp?prod=9.13103 for $4 for two of them. Mine were about $9 shipped.

Thu Sep 22, 2011 3:58 pm

That is a good fix. In the past I had just bought cheap bug tie rods and had taken the boots ,they were cheep like 5.00 ea.

Fri Sep 23, 2011 6:08 am

They actually work horribly. They are urethane and are too stiff. They also do not seal properly.

One of my pet projects right now...hopefully will be done by Christmas....is ball joint and tie-rod end boots...precision molded of high temp silicone with a dacron scrim inside so they cannot rip. I have a CV boot in the works as well. I'll let you know how it goes. Ray

Fri Sep 23, 2011 9:18 am

raygreenwood wrote: They actually work horribly. They are urethane and are too stiff. They also do not seal properly.

One of my pet projects right now...hopefully will be done by Christmas....is ball joint and tie-rod end boots...precision molded of high temp silicone with a dacron scrim inside so they cannot rip. I have a CV boot in the works as well. I'll let you know how it goes. Ray

I guess I'll learn in time but when I installed them they sealed nicely and I turned the steering lock to lock and they stayed in place correctly. :?:

I won't even try to argue that silicone with a dacron scrim wouldn't be better but as for what's available right now I couldn't find anything better.

Fri Sep 23, 2011 10:00 am

Did anyone ever find balljoint boot replacements? or anything suitable?

I have about 3 extra sets of very good Ball joints, but no good boots :(

Fri Sep 23, 2011 11:25 am

mxracer wrote: raygreenwood wrote: They actually work horribly. They are urethane and are too stiff. They also do not seal properly.

One of my pet projects right now...hopefully will be done by Christmas....is ball joint and tie-rod end boots...precision molded of high temp silicone with a dacron scrim inside so they cannot rip. I have a CV boot in the works as well. I'll let you know how it goes. Ray

I guess I'll learn in time but when I installed them they sealed nicely and I turned the steering lock to lock and they stayed in place correctly. :?:

I won't even try to argue that silicone with a dacron scrim wouldn't be better but as for what's available right now I couldn't find anything better.

I definately agree...they are all tahts available. The problem with urethane for this type of part is that

(a) Urethane becomes much harder with cold. That will be the first point at which you may notice that they no longer seal to the tie-rod. Tie-rods get cocked as you drive around especially if they are a nice stiff ball. At an angle the urethane boots can't stretch with that angle in cold weather.
(b) Even without heat or dry weather, urethane outgasses and hardens. Typically in about a year or less in outdoor you can expect a 65 duro urethane to become about a 75 duro urethane. In short order...about 1.5 years...they can be close to 90 duro. For reference...most of your rubber boots and bushings are between 45 and 55 duro.

Not beating on your choices at all. Its all there is. That problem...and the poor quality of the CV boots on the market is why I am exploring molding my own. Ray

Fri Sep 23, 2011 11:45 am

I have a set of rubber tie rod boots. I think I got them CIP1. They look ok, but I never installed them so I don't know if they'd fit right. They do come with the steel rings to hold them on the bottom and the rubber rings for the top.

http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=C16-131-835B

Sat Sep 24, 2011 9:06 am

If they are old stock...a few years old...they should be good. The problem I have been finding is that for the last few years there has been a world shortgae of Butadiene. This is a major processing agent in tires and many sysnthetic rubbers...and nylons. The manufacturers are usin gas little as possible and are also using other chemistries and methods. this is why so many rubber parts are not working well right now. Ray

Mon Apr 30, 2012 4:19 pm

raygreenwood wrote: They actually work horribly. They are urethane and are too stiff. They also do not seal properly.

One of my pet projects right now...hopefully will be done by Christmas....is ball joint and tie-rod end boots...precision molded of high temp silicone with a dacron scrim inside so they cannot rip. I have a CV boot in the works as well. I'll let you know how it goes. Ray

Ray - I thought about this when reading your comments in the zerk fitting thread. Any news? I'd definitely be in for a few sets.

Mon Apr 30, 2012 4:48 pm

John at AC.net carries tie rod boots.

Mon Apr 30, 2012 4:53 pm

supaninja wrote: John at AC.net carries tie rod boots.

I was more referring to the ball joint boots. With tie rods ends being inexpensive, it's easy to just replace. But Type 3 ball joint boots would be very cool.

Mon Apr 30, 2012 7:21 pm

Im hoping to get the first molds done in June. I'll keep in touch. Ray