Ball/Tie Rod boots

[Mobreaks]

Hey folks , I'm hoping for a little help here . My 2014 4x4 1500 has 120k on it and at the last service they found my dust boots tie rod/ball joints and end link)were pretty much trashed . I've searched Summit / Rock Auto and Amazon for replacement boots , but ,,,, it appears there are 2 sizes for the lower ball joints ' X-5/8" and X-9/16" . I have no idea without tearing it down as to what I've got . Any help on this ?

 

[BenWade]

You can and should replace the tie rod. An outer tie rod is only like $30 on RockAuto

 

[Mobreaks]

Thanks Be Wade . That's easy enough to do . I guess 120k , split boots , yeah makes sense . Any feedback then on the Ball Joints ?

 

[Tyler_h]

I went with bds greasable. OEM should be fine also.

 

[GeauxinUp]

Hey folks , I'm hoping for a little help here . My 2014 4x4 1500 has 120k on it and at the last service they found my dust boots tie rod/ball joints and end link)were pretty much trashed . I've searched Summit / Rock Auto and Amazon for replacement boots , but ,,,, it appears there are 2 sizes for the lower ball joints ' X-5/8" and X-9/16" . I have no idea without tearing it down as to what I've got . Any help on this ?

Where are you seeing the 2 different sizes? Rockauto only shows one for the lowers.
For example... Mevotech TXMS25545

 

[Mobreaks]

-The Upper Ball Joint boot is much smaller than the lower . I'm thinking about just getting a full set of ball joints / tie rod ends .
I haven't been able to find any for the 2014 . There's a bunch of 'Stuff' that need done . Found rust thru on a frame rail on the right side near the spare tire , so off comes the bed I guess . I was looking around after I found the rust thru and I'm pretty sure it was in a flood or got left in high water . Even the spare tire carrier is rusted bad . You just gotta love midwest cars/trucks !

 

[mdc1990zr1]

-The Upper Ball Joint boot is much smaller than the lower . I'm thinking about just getting a full set of ball joints / tie rod ends .
I haven't been able to find any for the 2014 . There's a bunch of 'Stuff' that need done . Found rust thru on a frame rail on the right side near the spare tire , so off comes the bed I guess . I was looking around after I found the rust thru and I'm pretty sure it was in a flood or got left in high water . Even the spare tire carrier is rusted bad . You just gotta love midwest cars/trucks !

With the tire under the truck, everything rusts really bad. I stopped this by putting the tire in the bed on my GM's and Ram and they are near perfect with minor surface rust but no rust thru.

 

[Jeepwalker]

How about trying to go to Mopar's website, drop in your tk's VIN, look up a tie rod and ball joints. If they don't give the stud size, paste their part number into rockAuto's website and it should give you the stud size specs.

I WOULD replace the boots too. I don't believe in replacing OEM parts with aftermarket ...just because. 120k is not THAT many miles by today's standards. They should be able to go 200k+ miles if it's mostly highway driven. Of course you need to look them over.

I've had/seen/worked on many vehicles where the tie rods and ball joints still feel relatively snug after 200k miles. My tk is getting close to 180k ..and the steering feels real tight. I test drove some new vehicles recently and I rent cars a lot ...so I know what good steering is...lol.

If when you pop off the tie rods/ball joints either stud feels 'not real snug' then you'll know they need replacing. If not you have the boots.

Are you going to do this yourself? Or the mechanic?


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