ball joint/tie-rod boots

[metalstudman1]

Any of you buy that used go kart/buggy with these? Or you can't find replacements? I spent hours looking for the right size boots. I've needed replacements for our buggies in the past because we spend so much time in the mud and they rot so quickly.
http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g394/metalstudman/punisher%20revived/rottedboots-1.jpg
http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g394/metalstudman/punisher%20revived/rottenboot.jpg

Thanx to Harbor Freight and their wide assortment of product at LOW prices, I found a suitable solution for about 20 cents a piece depending on length.
Here's what's needed:
http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g394/metalstudman/punisher%20revived/itemsneededforheatshrinkboots.jpg

$.99 for a pack of 1-1/6" x 3" heat shrink tube (makes 6 per pk. 3-red & 3- black) Heat gun (new from HF for less than $20. if you don't have one)The other items are what I found that worked well after some experimentation: a wooden (metal retains heat too long) knob the size of the large hole in the boot & and a whittled dowel to fit into the knob screw hole with the diameter of the small hole in the boot. Cut your length- mine ended up 1" each. The shrink tube has adhesive on the inside, I turned my 1" pieces inside out- if you choose to just apply the shrink tube over your existing boot then leave the adhesive on the inside.I used a pair of pliers to expand/stretch the shrink tube a little as it was pretty tight.
http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g394/metalstudman/punisher%20revived/heatshrinkbeforeheat.jpg

Apply heat:
http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g394/metalstudman/punisher%20revived/heatshrinkonjig.jpg

Let it cool- and peel it off the jig

Before & After:
http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g394/metalstudman/punisher%20revived/beforeafter.jpg
http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g394/metalstudman/punisher%20revived/shrinktubeboots.jpg

Grease the ball joint up and slip the new boot on-didn't need the retainer ring with the new ones (the grease helped mine slide on easier too!!)

[Lyonsperf]

I sell These http://www.lyonsperformance.com/images/products/chassis-suspension--rodends/energy-suspension-urethane-components/TieRodBoots_lgl.jpg (http://www.lyonsperformance.com/energy-suspension-dust-boots-p-564.html)

[x-bird]

nice, i was thinking about creating some for the little 3203 rod ends out of the vinyl/rubber car battery terminal boots.

[metalstudman1]

Lyonperf-What size are the ones you sell? I have about 7 different types of tie-rod/ball joints here and they all need about- 1.00"/25mm (big hole/base) x .43"/11mm (small hole/shaft) x .065"/16.5mm (tall)

I tried many of the ones from the auto supply stores and online,they're all too big!! also the ridgid ones don't stay/seal on the ball joint/tie-rod ends. Are yours 20cents each?!!!

x-bird- I've made battery terminal covers & coil boots from the same type of shrink tube for years- just didn't dawn on me to use it for ball joint boots till now!

[Lyonsperf]

heres the link to the measurements
http://www.energysuspension.com/universal-products/tie-rod-end-dust-boots.html

[x-bird]

I thought those looked familiar ---have the ES's on my bird's tie rods and pitman.

[metalstudman1]

Lyonperf-That's the brand that the guy & I at the parts store opened MANY packages of.

If anyone had success with them (energy suspension) I'd like to know which ones they used.

I did find a distributor from the UK that had what I thought was the right ones (based off his measurements) but they were too big at the big hole/base and to tall (couldn't squish down without popping it loose from the base). Cost me $18.48 for 4 to find out they wouldn't work :cussing:

[Lyonsperf]

My main concern with the cracked boots is that these are sealed units with no grease fittings. Once the boot is broken contaminants work their way into the joint causing excessive wear. It is impractical to clean these completely. And without a way to lubricate them and flush them out they simply should be replaced.

[metalstudman1]

I agree with the contaminants getting in their but strongly disagree about "impractical to clean these completely". The way to lubricate them is to remove the boot and grease them the same way we do bearings on these go karts/buggies.These particular ball joints/tie-rod ends were setting in a "new" un-used buggy/go kart for 6-7 yrs. in the weather I'm restoring. I was only trying to make replacement affordable and available when the market place doesn't provide a correct fit. I don't know about the rest of the crowd but replacing the whole unit at $20-$30 each isn't in my budget when popping the boot and adding grease will let me go play for an extended length of time. Very few buggies have a grease zerk at the bearings and the way to maintain them is to clean & re-lubricate them.

[Lyonsperf]

I agree with you about the prices. Have you looked at the tie rods at Speedwaymotors.com? They offer several different styles and are very affordable. The only thing I think you would need to do is tap the tie rod tubes 1/2"-20. These are greaseable.

[metalstudman1]

Bottom line is that buying new ball joints/tie-rod ends wasn't even a factor since these were new with rotten boots. I figured I'd share a viable, inexpensive and alternative solution to an issue. Many of the go karts/buggies I & many of us buy are in good shape, the elements destroys things without any wear & tear- paint,fuel lines,tires,seats,ect.. this was just a fix for ball joints/tie-rods end boots the same as a seat cover would be on a torn seat!!!! If these were wore out then replacement would've been the solution.

[Lyonsperf]

I understand you. I thought speedway had replacement boots for theirs thats all.

[GX150]

heres the link to the measurements
http://www.energysuspension.com/universal-products/tie-rod-end-dust-boots.html
I just ordered the extended height bump stops 9.9109 for my truck.

[buggyhead]

lyonsperf...how can I order some of those tie rod boots that you said you sold ? I don't want to buy new a-arms for my buggie, I was able too clean out my old ball joints good enough that they move freely, now I just need dust boot covers to keep the crud out. PM me or e-mail me ccm6662001@yahoo.com

[Masteryota]

lyonsperf...how can I order some of those tie rod boots that you said you sold ? I don't want to buy new a-arms for my buggie, I was able too clean out my old ball joints good enough that they move freely, now I just need dust boot covers to keep the crud out. PM me or e-mail me ccm6662001@yahoo.com

Not sure anyone will reply, as this thread has been dormant for some time, but depending on the size of the joint, parts stores sell some universal rubber and polyurethane boots. I know they are too small for the outer rod ends on the yerfs, but may work on yours.

[x-bird]

dk if lyons is still around at all--he went through some pretty heavy RL stuff last year, haven't heard from him since. Try pm'ing him, it may get to him.

[buggyhead]

not too worried about contacting him, I used his thread from energy suspension and think that they will have something for me. its up on the page just incase he ever logs back on he'll see it and maybe he'll get back to me