This tie rod end salvageable?

[Bhudzallmighty]

Slowly working on rebuilding my axles. Tie rod end gave me a lot of trouble but I was successful. I used a tool that slides under the tie rod end and you screw the other end to put leverage. It took a lot of force to get it out and it looked like my tie rod end took a hit? The bottom boot does not seem to have any clip/retainer to it so all the grease leaked out. The joint itself felt solid still and the boot seems intact other than the bottom missing. I dont want to replace it if I dont have to because I dont want to pay for another alignment (though i already ordered some 555s just in case).

Can i just squirt grease inside and call it a day??

 

[Mark W]

If the joint is good, you can add a little grease and put it back on. You do not need to realign the rig after replacing a tie rod end if you carefully measure before removing and install the new one to the same spacing.

Mark...

 

[SteveH]

You can buy replacement boots for some Toyota joints - you might check with the dealer. I installed new OEM upper ball joint boots on my LX470 and new OEM TRE boots on my FJ40.

 

[Bhudzallmighty]

If the joint is good, you can add a little grease and put it back on. You do not need to realign the rig after replacing a tie rod end if you carefully measure before removing and install the new one to the same spacing.

Mark...

What grease would you recommend? Yeah that was my plan if I were to replace the tie rod ends.

 

[Mark W]

What grease would you recommend? Yeah that was my plan if I were to replace the tie rod ends.

Honestly... whatever grease I had closest at hand. This is not a high stress, high speed, high heat application. It just has to keep things slippery in there, fill the area behind the boot so there is not a pocket to water to collect in and keep the surfaces from rusting.


Mark...

 

[Bhudzallmighty]

Honestly... whatever grease I had closest at hand. This is not a high stress, high speed, high heat application. It just has to keep things slippery in there, fill the area behind the boot so there is not a pocket to water to collect in and keep the surfaces from rusting.


Mark...

Thank you so much!