Just noticed your mention of factory ball joint boots.

I don't believe any new tie rods are manufactured to take the original snap on boots that have a metal ring molded into them.

Most all brands new lower ball joint boots are snap on. But I think the profile of the originals are different. Not as large and rounds as current

Seems like new brands upper ball joints are either square profile metal snap with molded over rubber or exposed cad swaged over end metal snap. Not sure which is similar to production line parts.

Otherwise NOS will get you very close.


If you are looking at this level of detail, I assume the rest of the more noticeable parts of the car will be to an even higher level of detail.