Replaced Tie Rod Boot...NEED HELP!!

I had a couple of tie rod end boots that had little pin holes and were squirting grease out so I thought I would replace them. Seems simple enough, never done it before, but it didn't seem too tough. I order red boots from Quadratec (Energy Suspension part number 9.13101R). Quadratec says they will fit my 2001 XJ Sport. So I head out to the garage to install the new boots. The original boots have a metal ring inside the boot that fits into a groove to help seal. The new boots do not have this ring and they slide over this groove. To me it doesn't look like they are going to seal that well. I took some pictures.

Pic #1: Driver side TRE http://www.cbrrr.net/Jeep/TRE/P4020090.JPG
Pic #2: Draglink (short side) http://www.cbrrr.net/Jeep/TRE/P4020091.JPG
Pic #3: Draglink (long side) http://www.cbrrr.net/Jeep/TRE/P4020092.JPG
Pic #4: Passenger side TRE http://www.cbrrr.net/Jeep/TRE/P4020093.JPG
Pic #5: Don't remember, but it is what the TRE boot looks like stock. http://www.cbrrr.net/Jeep/TRE/P4020094.JPG

Anyone have any advise? Do you guys think it they will seal fine? Should I be conserned?

By the way, I know each castle nut is missing the cotter pins...I forgot to get new ones. They will be fine until morning... Thanks everyone!!

I see what you mean. I went to the Energy Suspension website, and one of their pictures of a tie rod boot install looks just like yours. Did you get a phone # for a tech line in the package? I never knew those things existed, so if it works out, let me know. Both of my tie rods squirt grease on my brake rotors everytime I grease them.

It looks like you installed them correctly. What's the problem?

bottleworks said:

It looks like you installed them correctly. What's the problem?

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The problem is that they don't look like the are sealing. If they don't seal, water and dirt will get inside. Or worse yet, they will squirt grease all over my new brake rotors and pads. I just don't want there to be any problems. The OEM ones sealed up so nice there was no way grease would squirt out.

How are these working out for you? Did they stay sealed up?

As soon as I put grease in it just squirts out so I have to keep up with the maintenance on them. Nothing has fallen off yet, so I guess they are working. Hindsight being 20/20, I don't think I would do it again. I think if I have any problems I am going to spend the extra money and get the OEM ones. Thanks for asking!!

Tie rod ends aren't supposed to be sealed. If you grease the chassis at every oil change like you should, giving it two or three pumps on the grease gun, over the course of 200,000 miles how much grease do you think you're going to push into each TRE? That grease has to go somewhere.

If you have a problem with grease squirting out all over your brakes, you are using way to much. Like it was said above one or two pumps every oil change or a couple times a year is good enough.

Rand McNally said:

I think if I have any problems I am going to spend the extra money and get the OEM ones. Thanks for asking!!

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I AM SOOOOO EXCITED TO SEE THIS THREAD!

ive been looking everywhere for OEM boots and I too am at the energy suspension website.

I believe the OEM boots are completely adhered at the top and bottom of the boot so they retain grease longer than a normal boot. the replacement tie rod ends are the same way, but every aftermarket boot I can find just streatches around at the top and bottom. I think these are made to be greased around every oil change and that is the schedule I want for my XJ.

this XJ of mine was the first car I worked on myself. I had a buddy tell me "just keep pumpin grease in there until you see the old grease squeezing out". so thats what I did and guess what... I put waaaaay too much in and tore 2 of them. the other 2 are still waaaaay packed with grease. haha

so anyway I want to replace the boots and i want to go the www.energysuspension.com route, but DONT KNOW WHAT SIZE TO BUY because I cant measure the tie rod ends while they are on my XJ.

so if any of you can help with the following questions that would be excelent.

Is it possible to purchase OEM boots seperatly from the tie rod ends, and if so where?

if not where can I get the specs for the tie rod ends of an XJ so I can order the correct size boots?

are all of the tie rod joints the same size? so would I be buying 4 of the same sized boot?

ive called energysuspension, my dealership, and Jeep and none of them can help me. can you?