Lower lateral arm ball joint boot replacement

[urinmysights]

I had my lower lateral arms replaced from the recall like two years ago. Now one of the lower lateral ball joint boots has a crack in it. I went to the dealer to see if they would replace it again for free...that was a big negative on that. They said that they only replace them once for the recall. I was wondering if I can just buy a tie rod boot and replace it myself. I'd found these tie rod boots at http://www.energysuspension.com/pages/tie_r.html and was curious if anyone has used them to replace lower lateral ball joint boots. If you did which one did you use? Or if anyone has the dimensions that are needed to select the right size boot.

I know that you can buy a the lower lateral arm complete with the ball joint boot from the dealer for just under $50... but if I can buy a replacement ball joint boot for only $3 for two I would rather do that and have my cousin who is a car mechanic replace it for me.

 

[jtmcinder]

I had my lower lateral arms replaced from the recall like two years ago. Now one of the lower lateral ball joint boots has a crack in it. I went to the dealer to see if they would replace it again for free...that was a big negative on that. They said that they only replace them once for the recall.

First, read this: http://www.recall-warnings.com/auto-content-6236.html
and/or this: http://www.recall-warnings.com/auto-content-29936.html

The NHTSA number for the recall is 99V066001

Next, read: http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=147349
and then: http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=147353

Then go back to the same place and politely suggest to them that they do the recall, since the recall remains in force as long as the car is on the road. If they still don't agree, call NHTSA.

- Jtoby

 

[wret]

I hesitate to suggest a quick-fix that is not time proven, but if you use up your other options…

A short time after receiving the ball joint / arm recall replacement, I dropped the shock mount fork on the boot, creating a nice deep slice in the boot. After an obligatory fit of cussing, I took the arm off, cut about 3” off a roll of saran wrap (I mean cut through the whole roll with a hacksaw), and wrapped about 20 times around the joint and arm. I topped it off with a couple layers of electrical tape. Trim the excess plastic around the shaft.

I’ll replace it if it shows signs of wear but it’s been about six months and seems to be holding up well. Everything MacGyver ever made worked perfectly. My track record is not so good.

 

[Doug99RS]

First, read this: http://www.recall-warnings.com/auto-content-6236.html
and/or this: http://www.recall-warnings.com/auto-content-29936.html

The NHTSA number for the recall is 99V066001

Next, read: http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=147349
and then: http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=147353

Then go back to the same place and politely suggest to them that they do the recall, since the recall remains in force as long as the car is on the road. If they still don't agree, call NHTSA.

- Jtoby

The recall was released to correct a problem where the grease leaked out of the cup of the ball joint and which caused premature failure. The nature of the recall is very specific to leakage at the cup and not the boot. The rubber boot on the lateral arm ball joint itself is NOT the failing part under the recall and the recall does not cover it. While a grease leakage is still the concern here, the source of the leakage is a wear item that has... worn.

http://dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=102734&highlight=Lateral
This thread shows a perfect example of a boot tearing. This one is the OTHER lower control arm but it just goes to show that they will tear or BE torn and that the failure is not the cup at all.