whats under the boot?

[funky technician]

does anyone know whats under the inner tie rod end boot? is it an end like the outer? Im getting a weird clunk when turning the wheel at a stand still from stop to stop, and its not the strut bearings. I suspect the inner tierod end because it does it at different times turning the wheel, and the symptom is full dependent on the weight load/steering load...............if that makes sense to anyone :?
anyhow what does the inner tie rod end look like and do you need to buy the whole tie rod to replace it and can you get both sides at NAPA.........that is all 8)

[jglutz]

When does the noise occur? In the middle of travel? Towards the end of travel? Away from the end of travel?

Under the boot is the inner tie rod...same function as the outer but different in appearance and design.

I would start guessing that it's the inner CV's (tripods), The axles slide, slightly, in and out when turning from lock to lock. Or maybe the 'Cir-Clip" on the end of the spline broke?
Just a start.

[funky technician]

both axels are new, and its the clunk is like a tention is being relieved, like when a strut bearings is siezed, but its not that, and the clunk is felt in any steering point depending on the cercumstance, such as if I turn the wheel to the right, it will clunk when I then switch to the left, and vise versa

[austyfrosty]

you should also check out your lower ball joints because those are prone to going bad and clunking sometimes

[funky technician]

LOL there new too, thanks though, so are the hubs, both outer tie rod ends, and the axels, they were all replaced at the same time. so can you just spin the inner ends off like the outer ones or are they different, do you think this could be maybe a rack related problem?

[KingFish]

The inner rod is sorta like a screw, It threads into the steering rack. If you remove the boot clamp at the big end (rack) you will see a narrow hex that you can fit a 15/16 open ended wrench on. The whole thing pivots on a ball joint that if it wears out enuf, I think it could definitely make a clunking sound. If you don't have to much experience with your car, you may want to go and buy a repair manual from a parts store. It is a relatively simple job to replace it. And a helluva lot of fun.

[funky technician]

thankyou, that sounds like a very likely cause for my problem now that you explained that, I've never taken the boot off so there fore didn't know how exactly it worked but now I understand. is that ball joint sold separatly or does it come as an assembly with the innter tie rod end, or is the whole tierod and end one assembly?

[KingFish]

One piece.

[funky technician]

oh ya? so its like inner tie rod assembly then, does napa carrie that?

[KingFish]

p/n es3361

That is the TRW brand number from Advance Auto Parts.

[KingFish]

Advance being the best place to but your parts from.

[KingFish]

In my opinion....



Sorry bout the double post, but I know where the edit button is now

[funky technician]

hummm, I don't know if we have any of those around here :roll:

[KingFish]

Checkers? Kragers? Discount Auto? All part of the family. I work for 'em ya see.

EDIT: I purchased the item number listed below for my 90L , no good had those pesky big threads. There is the same kit for 90 and up cars item number 130098485293

[worfdog]

i just bought 2 inner tie rods and boots on e-bay.
item number 130098486578 they should have 19 of them left. $29.00.
hope i did not break any forum rules with this post.