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Old 06-03-2015, 06:28 AM   #1
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Looking for part info -

Hey all, hoping someone might be able to help. I need to replace a part on my front suspension and its a rubber boot or baffle thingy that seems to contain the grease surrounding the ties rods or steering control assembly or something.

Its the little rubber thing that "inflates" when you inject grease into the front three zerks. Although I've never "inflated" it per se. The name I would give it would be a Dust Cover Thingy.


In any event, I need new one's and I'm trying to find out what parts/manufacturer they are.

Can anyone help? I'm attaching a pic below which might help.

EDIT: 2006 EB Diesel with SMB 4wd system.

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Old 06-03-2015, 06:48 AM   #2
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Re: Looking for part info -

id guess your best bet is to contact smb and see what tie rod ends and balljoints they use for their conversions. if thats fruitless, you may have to go with a generic boot based off tie rod end size. companies like energy suspension and prothane make generic setups based off of the size of the balljoint. heres one i found with a quick search of "tie rod end boots"

http://www.4wheelparts.com/Brakes-Steer ... aQodsqgANA

and heres another at the same place, but looks a bit better at containing grease:

http://www.4wheelparts.com/Brakes-Steer ... aQod1CYAIw
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Old 06-03-2015, 07:08 AM   #3
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Re: Looking for part info -

Shenrie,

Thanks for the reply, at the very least you have started me down the right path regarding what its called and sourcing the parts. (FYI, I am trying your suggestion #1 but my sense of urgency and SMBs don't always coincide -which is fine)

Thanks again and I will see what makes sense.

Once I discover the part info, I suspect this thread will morph into a ""any tips for replacing these things" so I you've got any words of wisdom around tie rod dis-assembly and re-assembly, I'm all ears.

Thanks
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Old 06-03-2015, 07:47 AM   #4
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Re: Looking for part info -

Any auto parts chain will have generic tie rod boots.

Getting the tie rod end free of the steering arms can be frustrating. You will need a BFH and use the basic method shown in the video below (not the best instructional video but shows the proper method). Hit the steering arm with the BFH (not the tie rod end) and the shock will free up the tapered stud.

[youtube:4y0rv3qp]
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Old 06-03-2015, 08:19 AM   #5
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Re: Looking for part info -

^^^ that dude had a bfh but his method was definitely caveman-esk, lol.

only addition i could add is possibly using one of these style of balljoint separators.



you dont use this to break the part loose. you use this to put pressure on the joint so it comes loose easier when your using your bfh on the control arm. if you use it to break the connection loose, it will 100% for sure jack up your threads on the balljoint. gotta use caution with it. if your near boise, your welcome to borrow mine.

you could also use a picklefork since the boots need replaced anyway, but i rarely use them for anything other than breaking loose c-clips on cv axles as they ruin balljoint boots almost 100% of the time.
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Old 06-03-2015, 08:21 AM   #6
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Re: Looking for part info -

Copy that. Thanks for the vid and I have the hammer covered, I'm just light on the brains to use it in most cases.

I have found a shop in Boise that is starting to get comfortable working on the van and I trust them (the biggest issue to overcome). They are no where near Hubert's level but a start. And we are 2 hours from them which is less than ideal but hey.

I may just have them work on it and have them do a couple niggly things while they're at it. But the video is helpful. If I can find the right boot, I will tear it down myself.

Thanks again.
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Old 06-03-2015, 08:24 AM   #7
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Re: Looking for part info -

Quote:
Originally Posted by shenrie
^^^ that dude had a bfh but his method was definitely caveman-esk, lol.

only addition i could add is possibly using one of these style of balljoint separators.

Thanks for the offer. If I have to come into Boise I'll just get the work done by someone that knows how to wield the hammer. HA.

As I have always contended, I didn't buy the SMB to wrench on it, I bought it to use it.
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Old 06-03-2015, 08:28 AM   #8
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Re: Looking for part info -

Almost all the tie rod boots I see have a shaft diameter rating. I guess i will try to figure out what shaft diameter mine is.
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Old 06-03-2015, 08:35 AM   #9
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Re: Looking for part info -

My write-up on when I replaced my tie rod ends on my '06 SMB 4x4.

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2230&hilit=+tie


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Old 06-03-2015, 08:38 AM   #10
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Re: Looking for part info -

Quote:
Originally Posted by DUKCSUN
Thanks for the offer. If I have to come into Boise I'll just get the work done by someone that knows how to wield the hammer. HA.

As I have always contended, I didn't buy the SMB to wrench on it, I bought it to use it.
np and completely understand. wish i could live by that same motto, but im a cheap bastard and cant make myself pay what shops require for labor. so i end up doing a lot of the work myself...if at all possible anyway.

mind if i ask what shop your using? always nice to have a backup plan. the main shop i trust here is performance oriented and they are usually backlogged months in advance. sometimes it would be nice not to have to wait that long. the other guy i trust keeps a fleet of 7.3 vehicles going (4-5 vans, the rest are f-series) and i can barely get him to return calls anymore
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