Tie rod boot problem please help!

Ballinboy1020 · 04-26-2011, 01:48 AM

ok so my local dealer has an event were they do a free inspection of your car... they guy tells me my tie rood boots are torn. ok so no biggie. my dad is a honda tech for over 10 years and over 30 years experience working on other cars but never bmw. he know a lot about mechanics but is unfamiliar with German cars. ok so i get the hook up on dealer parts ( 10% above cost) so i order all my parts through the dealers bmw sends it to honda and my dad puts the parts on. so we go to order the tie rod boots give the bmw the vin and they send us the parts. My dad puts the car in the air and see's that the boots dont match up, we call bmw and they insist that those boots match the vin.

Did bmw update the assembly of the tie rod boots???

i want to get my alignment done but i have to do the boots first!

dmax · 04-26-2011, 04:10 AM

I'm pretty sure that the boot replacement is made so you don't have to separate the inner from outer tierod to install them.

I've had my boot in my trunk for months waiting to go on myself. Also, remember that if your wheels are turned, you'd expect one boot to be stretched out longer and the other to be shorter, so if you're comparing boot length, that might be why they're different.

The two diameters at the end are what should match, ...and that extra little 'insert' is so you can slip it up the tierod from the end by balljoint and don't have to redo alignment.

HTH

Doug

Ballinboy1020 · 04-26-2011, 08:56 AM

when we looked at the tie rod boots the ends didnt even match up with the tie rods.... we talk to bmw about it and we think that there is after market steering rack on the car... how do i know if there is an after market steering rack on the car?

xavi330i · 04-26-2011, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ballinboy1020

when we looked at the tie rod boots the ends didnt even match up with the tie rods.... we talk to bmw about it and we think that there is after market steering rack on the car... how do i know if there is an after market steering rack on the car?

find the p/n on the rack.

Solidjake · 04-26-2011, 01:02 PM

I think the PN is right in the center facing down on the rack.

blarf · 04-26-2011, 01:09 PM

How about some pictures.

OrientBlau · 04-26-2011, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ballinboy1020

Did bmw update the assembly of the tie rod boots???

Yes, the boots were changed/updated/revised.

See this thread:

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=820392

.

04-26-2011, 01:48 AM	#1
Ballinboy1020 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: florida Posts: 131 My Ride: 325ci View My Garage	Tie rod boot problem please help! ok so my local dealer has an event were they do a free inspection of your car... they guy tells me my tie rood boots are torn. ok so no biggie. my dad is a honda tech for over 10 years and over 30 years experience working on other cars but never bmw. he know a lot about mechanics but is unfamiliar with German cars. ok so i get the hook up on dealer parts ( 10% above cost) so i order all my parts through the dealers bmw sends it to honda and my dad puts the parts on. so we go to order the tie rod boots give the bmw the vin and they send us the parts. My dad puts the car in the air and see's that the boots dont match up, we call bmw and they insist that those boots match the vin. Did bmw update the assembly of the tie rod boots??? i want to get my alignment done but i have to do the boots first!

04-26-2011, 04:10 AM	#2
dmax Stay stock my friends! Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Unit I Posts: 21,092 My Ride: '99 328i 1.03809 mu View My Garage	I'm pretty sure that the boot replacement is made so you don't have to separate the inner from outer tierod to install them. I've had my boot in my trunk for months waiting to go on myself. Also, remember that if your wheels are turned, you'd expect one boot to be stretched out longer and the other to be shorter, so if you're comparing boot length, that might be why they're different. The two diameters at the end are what should match, ...and that extra little 'insert' is so you can slip it up the tierod from the end by balljoint and don't have to redo alignment. HTH Doug __________________ This huge woman, like 400 pounds comes up to me and says, "Doug, I would rock your world." I replied, "but I need to breathe." The girl in my sig:http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthr...highlight=dmax

04-26-2011, 01:02 PM	#5
Solidjake Mod Join Date: May 2008 Location: NYC Posts: 19,889 My Ride: 2002 330i View My Garage	I think the PN is right in the center facing down on the rack. __________________ Follow my cross country drive to Bimmerfest West 2013 http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=987217 Youtube - Electric Fan Swap/Aux Fan Removal - Projector Retrofit - E46 Bulb Guide

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04-26-2011, 08:56 AM	#3
Ballinboy1020 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: florida Posts: 131 My Ride: 325ci View My Garage	when we looked at the tie rod boots the ends didnt even match up with the tie rods.... we talk to bmw about it and we think that there is after market steering rack on the car... how do i know if there is an after market steering rack on the car?