Please help. What is this part called? - LotusTalk

CalBears92 · 08-13-2007, 10:13 AM

This particular part, the black rubber that I have isolated in the small picture to the right, is leaking grease on both passenger and driver side. I was told it is a warranty item and I should have it replaced.

Please help w/ the following questions:

1. What is it called (so I can tell the service dept what it is prior to coming in).

2. Has anyone actually have this part replaced? And not fail / leak again?

3. Has anyone had a dealer just wipe the surrounding area clean and call it good?

Thanks.

jkolb · 08-13-2007, 10:21 AM

It is a ball joint boot and it may leak a little grease if too much grease is inserted in the joint. Unless the integrity of the boot has been compromised with a tear or a visible hole, I would just wipe the grease off of its exterior and call it good. If torn it needs to be replaced, and it may or may not be available separate from the ball joint.

Jerry

ZTEC · 08-13-2007, 10:23 AM

It is a tie-rod and it is sealed, You cannot add grease to it (no zerk fitting), It is a factory replaced item and I had one replaced on my car and the bastards left the steering rod boot all twisted up because they were too lazy to loosen the clamp on the dust boot when they did the alignment.

yeahiknowiam · 08-13-2007, 11:08 AM

Why would they put boots on the car that we can't grease ourselves? Is there a good reason for this?

Surferjer · 08-13-2007, 11:15 AM

Mine is leaking on the driver's side. I just haven't been concerned enough to take it in yet.

RacyTracy · 08-13-2007, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZTEC

It is a tie-rod and it is sealed, You cannot add grease to it (no zero fitting), It is a factory replaced item and I had one replaced on my car and the bastards left the steering rod boot all twisted up because they were too lazy to loosen the clamp on the dust boot when they did the alignment.

Zerk fitting.......

andykeck · 08-13-2007, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yeahiknowiam

Why would they put boots on the car that we can't grease ourselves? Is there a good reason for this?

I thought 'sealed for life' ball joints were the standard these days?

ZTEC · 08-13-2007, 11:56 AM

Damn Spell Check

Correction made! - Thanks Racy!!!

yeahiknowiam · 08-13-2007, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andykeck

I thought 'sealed for life' ball joints were the standard these days?

No doubt about that... But I sure would prefer being able to put fresh grease in them each oil change.

jkolb · 08-13-2007, 12:10 PM

OOPS! Tie rod end is correct. I was looking at the picture, but thinking of the upper ball joint on my Elan, which exhibited the same symptoms. For those who are worried about no zerk fittings, virtually no cars made today have zerk fittings on their tie rod ends. Better grease and better internal sealing make these parts pretty much 0 maintenance.

Jerry

xtn · 08-13-2007, 12:20 PM

"Sealed for life," means, "Sealed until they aren't."

"Zero maintenance," is marketing speak for "Throw 'em away."

xtn (translator of all things idiotic)

TimMullen · 08-13-2007, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yeahiknowiam

Why would they put boots on the car that we can't grease ourselves? Is there a good reason for this?

To keep the dirt out. The "boot" is the rubber part that goes between the ball joint of the tie-rod (in this case) and the steering arm. The boot keeps the grease that's already in the ball joint "in" and the dirt "out".

As other's have said, a little bit of grease leaking out is not a big deal - it just indicates that there was excess in there to start with. If the boot is torn, cracked, or just "collapsed" (i.e. no more grease under the rubber), then it needs to be replaced. Otherwise, it's fine.

Donbecker · 08-13-2007, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yeahiknowiam

Why would they put boots on the car that we can't grease ourselves? Is there a good reason for this?

Isn't the purpose of the boots to keep grease in and dirt out?

Why would having/not having a zerk fitting matter?

Donbecker · 08-13-2007, 12:55 PM

LOL Tim... timing...

yeahiknowiam · 08-13-2007, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimMullen

To keep the dirt out. The "boot" is the rubber part that goes between the ball joint of the tie-rod (in this case) and the steering arm. The boot keeps the grease that's already in the ball joint "in" and the dirt "out".

As other's have said, a little bit of grease leaking out is not a big deal - it just indicates that there was excess in there to start with. If the boot is torn, cracked, or just "collapsed" (i.e. no more grease under the rubber), then it needs to be replaced. Otherwise, it's fine.

That makes a lot of sense... thanks for the insight!

08-13-2007, 10:13 AM	#1 (permalink)
CalBears92 Monkey Tuned! Join Date: May 2006 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 503 Images: 3	Please help. What is this part called? This particular part, the black rubber that I have isolated in the small picture to the right, is leaking grease on both passenger and driver side. I was told it is a warranty item and I should have it replaced. Please help w/ the following questions: 1. What is it called (so I can tell the service dept what it is prior to coming in). 2. Has anyone actually have this part replaced? And not fail / leak again? 3. Has anyone had a dealer just wipe the surrounding area clean and call it good? Thanks. Attached Images

08-13-2007, 10:21 AM	#2 (permalink)
jkolb Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bend, OR/Austin, TX Posts: 374	It is a ball joint boot and it may leak a little grease if too much grease is inserted in the joint. Unless the integrity of the boot has been compromised with a tear or a visible hole, I would just wipe the grease off of its exterior and call it good. If torn it needs to be replaced, and it may or may not be available separate from the ball joint. Jerry __________________ 2007 Laser Blue Exige S 1965 Elan (26r clone) vintage race car 2005 Audi S4

08-13-2007, 10:23 AM	#3 (permalink)
ZTEC Third Eye Open Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 1,738 Images: 3	It is a tie-rod and it is sealed, You cannot add grease to it (no zerk fitting), It is a factory replaced item and I had one replaced on my car and the bastards left the steering rod boot all twisted up because they were too lazy to loosen the clamp on the dust boot when they did the alignment. Attached Images __________________ GO: Vision Function Stage II Intercooled Bliss with Charlie's ECU magic and Ronin's Tenacity! STOP: DBA 4000's, Porterfield R4! TURN: Nitron S/A's Toyo RA1's 225/245 on Rota's! Last edited by ZTEC : 08-13-2007 at 11:55 AM.

08-13-2007, 11:08 AM	#4 (permalink)
yeahiknowiam call me robbie. Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 1,135 Images: 16	Why would they put boots on the car that we can't grease ourselves? Is there a good reason for this? __________________ '06 Exige - Aspen White [sold] and living like no one else!

08-13-2007, 11:15 AM	#5 (permalink)
Surferjer No more cone damage! Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Exton, PA Posts: 8,887	Mine is leaking on the driver's side. I just haven't been concerned enough to take it in yet. __________________ Jer-2005 Elise (retired from autox) 1993 MR2 autox car 2002 Ford Excursion DIESEL 4 X 4 1993 Miata (throwout bearing or clutch failure) 1987 Toyota Corolla FX16 Lemons car (needs new head) 1984 Chevy Citation Lemons car (needs a motor)

08-13-2007, 11:56 AM	#8 (permalink)
ZTEC Third Eye Open Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 1,738 Images: 3	Damn Spell Check Correction made! - Thanks Racy!!! __________________ GO: Vision Function Stage II Intercooled Bliss with Charlie's ECU magic and Ronin's Tenacity! STOP: DBA 4000's, Porterfield R4! TURN: Nitron S/A's Toyo RA1's 225/245 on Rota's!

08-13-2007, 12:10 PM	#10 (permalink)
jkolb Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bend, OR/Austin, TX Posts: 374	OOPS! Tie rod end is correct. I was looking at the picture, but thinking of the upper ball joint on my Elan, which exhibited the same symptoms. For those who are worried about no zerk fittings, virtually no cars made today have zerk fittings on their tie rod ends. Better grease and better internal sealing make these parts pretty much 0 maintenance. Jerry __________________ 2007 Laser Blue Exige S 1965 Elan (26r clone) vintage race car 2005 Audi S4

08-13-2007, 12:20 PM	#11 (permalink)
xtn McLareghini Bugatterrari Join Date: May 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 6,845	"Sealed for life," means, "Sealed until they aren't." "Zero maintenance," is marketing speak for "Throw 'em away." xtn (translator of all things idiotic) __________________ 2006 McLareghini Bugatterrari, Storm Titanium... <mods> installed: air horn, Scroth 4-point ASM harnesses, Sector111 halon extinguisher and mounting bracket, Von Hep exhaust and rear panel delete, Pagid brake pads, red Volks CE28n wheels, Toyo RA-1 tires, Nitron SA coilovers, Sector111 (WorksBell) quick-disconnect steering wheel kit. awaiting installation: Scroth "pull-up" lap belts, Sector111 RTD Brace, Tony's heater bypass mod, and dropped steering rack mounting plates. </mods>

08-13-2007, 12:55 PM	#14 (permalink)
Donbecker Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Phoenix, Arizona Posts: 1,064	LOL Tim... timing...

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