Steering joint: is this bad?

[TWeatherford]

I'm sure there's some fancy name for this I just don't know what it is. Its the joint that connects my steering linkage to the power steering gearbox. As you can see, the rubber boot is pretty well shot. Seems like its right in the right spot to get ripped by every bush and whatnot I happen to run over (which isn't too often, but anyway). It would be great if I could just replace the boot and not the whole joint, but I doubt thats possible. Seems to be plenty of grease on it though, I actually wiped a bunch off before the picture, and gave the zerk a few pumps of new grease.

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[gatorman21218]

That called a tie rod end and if you give me a minute i can find a website where i ordered new dust boots for my truck

 

[towcat]

pitman arm.

 

[gatorman21218]

http://www.energysuspensionparts.com/Energy-Suspension-Universal-Dust-Boots.asp

Just take of the nut and hit down with a hammer and itll come apart. BTW that 30 lb piece of iron above the tie rod is call a pitman arm

 

[Optikalillushun]

actually its a drag link.

 

[Uncle Mater]

A pitman, draglink and a cute old ball joint that needs a replacement.

 

[TWeatherford]

A pitman, draglink and a cute old ball joint that needs a replacement.

Ok, I would be curious to know why it needs replacement. I do not have money to throw at everything on this truck that looks a little funny. My steering is tight, it doesn't wander, no funny sounds from the front end that I ever hear, and every time I have it jacked up I wiggle the wheel, and get no play. Isn't there supposed to be play before its bad?

I agree, the dust boot certainly could use refreshing, but I imagine that is a lot cheaper and less involved than a whole ball joint.

 

[MIDNIGHT RIDER]

So long as it's tight, with no wiggle or slop, I would just run it.

Pump plenty of Kendall Super-Blu L427 into it every time it's handy.


Were I to need to replace one, I would just replace them all; that way everything is new at the same time, instead of always needing another joint.

 

[ghunt]

FYI it probably just needs a new boot...I don't know what it is with the draglinks on these trucks but if you put on a rubber boot it will split almost immediately.

I bought some urethane dust boots for an F150 (I think) and put one in that spot. It doesn't quite fit right, but it also hasn't split and it's still on there.

 

[Exekiel69]

Yep thats a drag link. You can pump grease on it and if water comes out then that is bad, You can also find a boot that fits and cap it. It isn't very expensive to buy and replace that part either.