My cheeeep-assteroid, and probably temporary solution to torn tie rod
end boots is to clean and grease them through the torn boot, then
carefully wrap them with a strip of rubber cut from a bicycle inner
tube. If done right, only one tie-wrap is needed to secure it.

Not sure how long this will last, but I'm on the road again!

Ron
'86 SW - Quadrat
'88 Wolfie - Bluberry 'etc.

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of Jeff Oxroad
Sent: Wednesday, September 17, 2003 10:51 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Tie Rod Boot replacement

Is there a way to replace a torn tie rod boot--the boot on the steering
gear around the tie rod--without removing the tie rod or the tie rod
end?

I rememember years ago seeing a CV joint rubber boot for a beetle that
was split length-wise and clipped over the CV joint to allow replacement
of the boot without removing the entire CV joint. How well this repair
boot worked I don't know.

If there is not this simple repair, what is the process? The tie rod end
need to be pressed out of the steering knuckle, then unscrew the tie rod
from the steering gear, swap in a new boot and reassemble--then get
alignment adjusted?

I suppose if I have to go that far, I might as well replace the tie rod
ends while I'm in there?

Any info appreciated.
Thanks
Jeff
83.5 Westy
LA,CA