Where do you find suspension grease boots?

Posted By: Kern Dog

Where do you find suspension grease boots? - 09/17/12 05:06 AM

I'm helping my brother-in-law with his Duster. We have the engine out to paint the engine bay and the entire front suspension is disassembled. The ball joints and tie rod ends are in great shape, but the boots are trashed. Does anyone sell just the boots? We need them for both upper ball joints, both lowers and the tie rod/pitman/idler arm boots as well.
Any ideas? Thanks, Greg

Posted By: autoxcuda

Re: Where do you find suspension grease boots? - 09/17/12 05:18 AM

Quote:

I'm helping my brother-in-law with his Duster. We have the engine out to paint the engine bay and the entire front suspension is disassembled. The ball joints and tie rod ends are in great shape, but the boots are trashed. Does anyone sell just the boots? We need them for both upper ball joints, both lowers and the tie rod/pitman/idler arm boots as well.
Any ideas? Thanks, Greg

Energy suspension sells black poly boots for tie rods and pitman arm.

But I don't know of any place to get upper and lower boots. Chrysler I think sells lowers that might fit an aftermarket LBJ. But the Chrysler tie rod boots will only fit OE/NOS? tie rod end that have a metal snap ring molded into them.

There's a Mopar and/or Direct Connection boot kit. Its ridiculously expensive. You could about buy now UBJ and LBJ's for that money!

Posted By: kentj340

Re: Where do you find suspension grease boots? - 09/17/12 06:01 AM

See: http://www.jimsautoparts.com/suspension.htm

and scroll 1-2 pages down. I'm not saying to buy these, because they are way expensive. But if anybody knows where to find the same thing or something as good elsewhere for a decent price, please post.

Posted By: OzHemi

Re: Where do you find suspension grease boots? - 09/17/12 06:45 AM

Quote:

Quote:

I'm helping my brother-in-law with his Duster. We have the engine out to paint the engine bay and the entire front suspension is disassembled. The ball joints and tie rod ends are in great shape, but the boots are trashed. Does anyone sell just the boots? We need them for both upper ball joints, both lowers and the tie rod/pitman/idler arm boots as well.
Any ideas? Thanks, Greg

Energy suspension sells black poly boots for tie rods and pitman arm.

But I don't know of any place to get upper and lower boots. Chrysler I think sells lowers that might fit an aftermarket LBJ. But the Chrysler tie rod boots will only fit OE/NOS? tie rod end that have a metal snap ring molded into them.

There's a Mopar and/or Direct Connection boot kit. Its ridiculously expensive. You could about buy now UBJ and LBJ's for that money!

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ENS-5-13102G/

Posted By: autoxcuda

Re: Where do you find suspension grease boots? - 09/17/12 06:49 AM

Quote:

See: http://www.jimsautoparts.com/suspension.htm

and scroll 1-2 pages down. I'm not saying to buy these, because they are way expensive. But if anybody knows where to find the same thing or something as good elsewhere for a decent price, please post.

That's the Mopar/Direct Connection seal kit. Big $$. The tie rod seals have a metel reinforcemnt that only click into OE/NOS tie rods that car that have a machined lip/groove.

IMHO, you are paying $169 to use 4 seals: the upper ball joint and lower ball joint. I think you could buy new ball joints for almost that money.

I'd try to find those "inferior" UBJ and LBJ boots that Jim's shows a picture off. Probably "HELP" brand section at the parts store. Or ask to look at thier catalog to see if you can special order the seals.

Are Jim's Auto Parts the crooks to stay away from or is it Jack's??

Posted By: autoxcuda

Re: Where do you find suspension grease boots? - 09/17/12 06:52 AM

Quote:

Quote:

Quote:

I'm helping my brother-in-law with his Duster. We have the engine out to paint the engine bay and the entire front suspension is disassembled. The ball joints and tie rod ends are in great shape, but the boots are trashed. Does anyone sell just the boots? We need them for both upper ball joints, both lowers and the tie rod/pitman/idler arm boots as well.
Any ideas? Thanks, Greg

Energy suspension sells black poly boots for tie rods and pitman arm.

But I don't know of any place to get upper and lower boots. Chrysler I think sells lowers that might fit an aftermarket LBJ. But the Chrysler tie rod boots will only fit OE/NOS? tie rod end that have a metal snap ring molded into them.

There's a Mopar and/or Direct Connection boot kit. Its ridiculously expensive. You could about buy now UBJ and LBJ's for that money!

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ENS-5-13102G/

Are those UBJ and LBJ boots? Or tie rod boots?

Posted By: OzHemi

Re: Where do you find suspension grease boots? - 09/17/12 04:09 PM

Quote:

Quote:

Quote:

Quote:

I'm helping my brother-in-law with his Duster. We have the engine out to paint the engine bay and the entire front suspension is disassembled. The ball joints and tie rod ends are in great shape, but the boots are trashed. Does anyone sell just the boots? We need them for both upper ball joints, both lowers and the tie rod/pitman/idler arm boots as well.
Any ideas? Thanks, Greg

Energy suspension sells black poly boots for tie rods and pitman arm.

But I don't know of any place to get upper and lower boots. Chrysler I think sells lowers that might fit an aftermarket LBJ. But the Chrysler tie rod boots will only fit OE/NOS? tie rod end that have a metal snap ring molded into them.

There's a Mopar and/or Direct Connection boot kit. Its ridiculously expensive. You could about buy now UBJ and LBJ's for that money!

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ENS-5-13102G/

Are those UBJ and LBJ boots? Or tie rod boots?

Hmm...not sure if they are uppers or lowers, might check on Energy's site and see if they have a better description maybe.

Posted By: Azzkikrcuda

Re: Where do you find suspension grease boots? - 09/17/12 04:22 PM

The HELP section of most autoparts stores has them.

Posted By: TC@HP2

Re: Where do you find suspension grease boots? - 09/17/12 11:11 PM

Mancini, $100 for the whole shooting match, two upper ball, two lower ball, all four tie rods, idler, and pitman.

http://chucker54.stores.yahoo.net/frsubopa.html

Posted By: 68HemiB

Re: Where do you find suspension grease boots? - 09/18/12 01:34 AM

Quote:

the entire front suspension is disassembled. The ball joints and tie rod ends are in great shape, but the boots are trashed.

Because you used a pickle fork to separate them.

Just say NO to pickle forks.

Posted By: OzHemi

Re: Where do you find suspension grease boots? - 09/18/12 01:48 AM

Would a pickle Spork have been more appropriate ?

Posted By: 68HemiB

Re: Where do you find suspension grease boots? - 09/18/12 01:51 AM

no

Not even a Foon.

Posted By: Kern Dog

Re: Where do you find suspension grease boots? - 09/18/12 04:55 AM

Quote:

Quote:

the entire front suspension is disassembled. The ball joints and tie rod ends are in great shape, but the boots are trashed.

Because you used a pickle fork to separate them.

Just say NO to pickle forks.

Really? YOU were in MY garage to see how I pulled it all apart?
YOU think that in 40 years, I am the only one to have ever laid hands on this car?
The boots were damaged before disassembly.
Thanks for offering nothing positive here.

Posted By: Ramrod39

Re: Where do you find suspension grease boots? - 09/18/12 05:06 AM

Quote:

Quote:

the entire front suspension is disassembled. The ball joints and tie rod ends are in great shape, but the boots are trashed.

Because you used a pickle fork to separate them.

Just say NO to pickle forks.

What do you use instead of a pickle fork?

Posted By: Kern Dog

Re: Where do you find suspension grease boots? - 09/18/12 05:12 AM

The factory service manual shows a tool that pushes the top ball joint stud against the bottom ball joint stud. It looks sort of like a turnbuckle or something. What happens after the first one pops loose? Now you have nothing to push against. Does anyone have a picture of a correct tool? I'd gladly try a different approach. Often when I want to save a nice grease boot, I'll use two hammers opposed and hit the knuckle/spindle from 2 sides. after a few raps, the ball joint usually squirts out!

Posted By: MoJoe

Re: Where do you find suspension grease boots? - 09/18/12 01:28 PM

The ones from the Help section at the local Auto store are NG. I used a couple when I did my suspesion rebuild in the spring...they never fit that well to begin with. Last week when I put on my new wheels, I noticed they are now gone.

Posted By: runinonmt

Re: Where do you find suspension grease boots? - 09/18/12 02:25 PM

Quote:

The factory service manual shows a tool that pushes the top ball joint stud against the bottom ball joint stud. It looks sort of like a turnbuckle or something. What happens after the first one pops loose? Now you have nothing to push against. Does anyone have a picture of a correct tool? I'd gladly try a different approach. Often when I want to save a nice grease boot, I'll use two hammers opposed and hit the knuckle/spindle from 2 sides. after a few raps, the ball joint usually squirts out!

Here ya go,Frankie. Note that the tool(I use a 1" coupling nut and machine screw) is only a helper."Tighten tool enough to place ball joint stud under pressure then strike steering knuckle arm with a

". When one is removed the tool goes against the knuckle. I much prefer this method to beating the crap out of the knuckle and it's a lot easier.

Attached picture 7384282-BallJointSeparator.JPG

Attached picture 7384282-BallJointSeparator.JPG

Posted By: Wayne L

Re: Where do you find suspension grease boots? - 09/18/12 02:25 PM

Just doing the same thing on my Dart. After searching I ordered a full set from Year One part number fdp963. Only 25.99. Sorry I dont know how to post a link. Wayne

Posted By: hemi71x

Re: Where do you find suspension grease boots? - 09/18/12 02:44 PM

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

Listing for Energy Suspension dust boots.

Posted By: Kern Dog

Re: Where do you find suspension grease boots? - 09/18/12 06:28 PM

Quote:

Here ya go,Frankie. Note that the tool(I use a 1" coupling nut and machine screw) is only a helper."Tighten tool enough to place ball joint stud under pressure then strike steering knuckle arm with a ". When one is removed the tool goes against the knuckle. I much prefer this method to beating the crap out of the knuckle and it's a lot easier.

Now THIS is helpful! Thank you so much!

Posted By: forphorty

Re: Where do you find suspension grease boots? - 09/19/12 12:20 AM

Quote:

Quote:

Quote:

the entire front suspension is disassembled. The ball joints and tie rod ends are in great shape, but the boots are trashed.

Because you used a pickle fork to separate them.

Just say NO to pickle forks.

What do you use instead of a pickle fork?

Here is what i use: http://www.autozone.com/autozone/accesso...equestid=218221

Posted By: Ron_M

Re: Where do you find suspension grease boots? - 09/19/12 12:45 PM

Rick Ehrenberg / Mopar Action covered the subject in Das Boot earlier this year. Good reading.

Attached File

7385635-AvailableBootsandSeals.pdf (119 downloads)

Posted By: runinonmt

Re: Where do you find suspension grease boots? - 09/19/12 02:55 PM

Now THIS is helpful! Thank you so much!

That,despite all of the whining and bickering is what we're here for.
Ron
P.S. This is not a repost

Posted By: 68HemiB

Re: Where do you find suspension grease boots? - 09/19/12 09:11 PM

Quote:

Quote:

Quote:

the entire front suspension is disassembled. The ball joints and tie rod ends are in great shape, but the boots are trashed.

Because you used a pickle fork to separate them.

Just say NO to pickle forks.

Really? YOU were in MY garage to see how I pulled it all apart?
YOU think that in 40 years, I am the only one to have ever laid hands on this car?
The boots were damaged before disassembly.
Thanks for offering nothing positive here.

If the ball joints and tie rod ends are in "great shape", and yet every single one of the boots are trashed, it is a sure bet that they got that way from someone using a pickle fork on them. I think it is a positive thing that a discussion about damaged boots covers how the damage is most likely to occur, and that has now been done. I think it is a positive thing that a discussion about damaged boots covers the alternate methods for separating suspension components with techniques and tools other than a pickle fork, and that has now been done. I intended both of these results, and they in fact came about as a result of my comment.

I had no intention of exposing anyone's sensitivity to implied insults about proper tool selection.
We have now established that you were not the one who wielded the pickle fork, and I hereby apologize for implying as such.

have a good day

Posted By: gtx6970

Re: Where do you find suspension grease boots? - 09/19/12 09:16 PM

No idea if they still are or not, BUT they used to still be avail thru Mopar ( as of maybe 2 or 3 years ago when I ck'd) But hold your pants they ain't cheap.

If I remember right they were well over $200 JUST for the boots( I didn't buy them btw)

Posted By: 68HemiB

Re: Where do you find suspension grease boots? - 09/19/12 09:27 PM

Quote:

What do you use instead of a pickle fork?

I use the single (not a pair of) BFH method.

Most current and former flat-rate frontend guys (I count myself in the latter group), have "the touch" for tapping the component through which the taper passes, shocking it so that the taper falls free. It is an acquired skill ("Use The Force, Luke..."). Specialty tools are just fine for the hobbyist and purist alike. I imply no insult to anyone who chooses to use a specialty tool, or more hammers than I. If you're flagging, it's a lot faster to use the BFH that is always at hand, instead of digging for some specialty tool. And that doesn't even consider the time spent spinning the specialty tool to the right mounting depth, mounting the specialty tool, then turning it (with yet another tool) until stuff pops, and then dismounting it.

WHAM and done.

Posted By: autoxcuda

Re: Where do you find suspension grease boots? - 09/19/12 09:28 PM

Quote:

No idea if they still are or not, BUT they used to still be avail thru Mopar ( as of maybe 2 or 3 years ago when I ck'd) But hold your pants they ain't cheap.

If I remember right they were well over $200 JUST for the boots( I didn't buy them btw)

That the kits mentioned eariler in this thread. Just don't buy them through Jims (bad).

IIRC, Mopar Perfromance sold these sets too. So there probabaly a "P" number for them too.

The ball joint boots don't fit well with aftermarket tie rods. Designed to fit with OE (NOS?) tie rods.

kentj340 wrote:

Quote:

See: http://www.jimsautoparts.com/suspension.htm

and scroll 1-2 pages down. I'm not saying to buy these, because they are way expensive. But if anybody knows where to find the same thing or something as good elsewhere for a decent price, please post.

Posted By: Kern Dog

Re: Where do you find suspension grease boots? - 09/19/12 09:28 PM

Quote:

I think it is a positive thing that a discussion about damaged boots covers how the damage is most likely to occur, and that has now been done. I intended both of these results, and they in fact came about as a result of my comment.

I had no intention of exposing anyone's sensitivity to implied insults about proper tool selection.
We have now established that you were not the one who wielded the pickle fork, and I hereby apologize for implying as such.

have a good day

Yeah... I may have been a wee bit OVERsensitive on this one.
You are right. You made a great point and shed light on a subject that is sure to to save members some time and effort in the future.
I am FrankenDuster and I approve of this message.

Where do you find suspension grease boots?