The Panther

Noticed this the other day when changing brake pads. Is it a tie rod boot that has melted? Do I just need to replace the boot? I am headed to the track this weekend, so I want to figure out what exactly I need to replace.

redtopz

Try to shake your wheel side to side and see if there is any play in the tie rod. If the wheel moves side to side a little, but not up and down then your tie rod is going bad and should be replaced. They aren't too expensive so I would just get a new tie rod instead of a new boot unless the tie rod was fairly new. Based on the picture, I would say get a new one .

Z11409

Wrap tie rod ends in hedder wrapping and hold with aircraft tie wire

John Shiels

Vette brake products has good ones or Moog with no plastic inside and a grease fitting

The Panther

What is the purpose of the boot? How hard is it to replace? It looks pretty simple to replace the whole tie rod.

John Shiels

boot keeps grease in. You can replace the rubber but it is not a seal like OEM or new tie rod end.

Bill Dearborn

I use header wrap on the boots and then made some shields out of soup cans that shield the boots and wrap from the heat radiated from the rotor.

Bill