Hi guys, looking for people who have had experience with the universal split track rod end covers? Are they any good/worth it? Can get some for a tenner off fleabay.

My track rod end dust covers picked up an advisory on my recent MOT and am reluctant to change the whole track rod ends due to costs. Likewise i am having the tracking done/ new tyres so dont want the track rod ends to wear 2 months down the line because the seals have failed :-/

Cheers, Mike

Pretty sure new track rod ends are not expensive?

Are you sure the advisory is for the track rod end dust covers,not the steering rack boots?

IMO if the track rod dust covers are old enough to be split yu should really put new track rod ends on before getting the tracking set up for a proper/decent job

Edited 4 October, 20169 yr by coskev

Pretty sure new track rod ends are not expensive?

Are you sure the advisory is for the track rod end dust covers,not the steering rack boots?

IMO if the track rod dust covers are old enough to be split yu should really put new track rod ends on before getting the tracking set up for a proper/decent job

 

Hi Coskev, the reason I am trying to avoid replacing the actual track rod ends is because it straps £75 on top of the price of the other work I am doing. They are not yet split, just slightly deteriorated. They were only an advisory and are still functioning fine, I was curious as to whether just replacing the dust covers would prolong their life a bit more. I am currently in the middle of buying a house so need to keep costs down as much as possible :-)

 

nearside front Track rod end ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

offside front Track rod end ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

 

Cheers,

 

Mike.

£75?

Holy **** who is charging that to replace two TRE's?

£75?

Holy **** who is charging that to replace two TRE's?

 

I didn't think it was unreasonable to be honest. That includes parts, labour, tr-tracking and VAT. Just like I say. trying to avoid as much cost as possible :-) 

You said you are getting tracking done anyway with new tyres,so is that part of the extra £75 or not?

Decent branded TRE's ae just over £20 a pair

TRE's - £20/pair, Tracking usually about £15-£20 with VAT and labour £75 doesn't sound too bad, I would definitely replace the ends though, if those split boots are anything like the CV ones that used to be about, then they won't last the winter. As they are an advisory, then you could leave them for a while and get them changed when you can afford to.

Edited 4 October, 20169 yr by octyal

You said you are getting tracking done anyway with new tyres,so is that part of the extra £75 or not?

Decent branded TRE's ae just over £20 a pair

 

Quote is: £111 for new console bush (offside) and tracking, or if I have the track rod ends replaced (offside+nearside) also it comes to £186. 

 

Tyres I am having done separately through black circles (fitted just before I take the car in for the work described above).

Edited 4 October, 20169 yr by mikeybean

That is a Rip off IMO,TRE's take all of 10mins max a side to swap over.

Back to the beginning, have a good look at these rubber dust covers, if they look okay, then maybe this is just the MOT station being  over zealous so that the DOT sees decent pick up of advisories?

Back to the beginning, have a good look at these rubber dust covers, if they look okay, then maybe this is just the MOT station being  over zealous so that the DOT sees decent pick up of advisories?

 

i will get some photos tonight and post them here :-)

I've never head of those rubbers being separate "service items" before; they're either changed with the rod ends or not at all.

A long time ago, maybe as long as 40 years ago, all these dust covers and their retaining "things" were sold as service parts, well at least for things like Land Rover and agric vehicles were there would be a high chance of these dust boots getting damaged at any time in their life.

 

There are places that still sell dust boots, but you would need to the sizes to get the correct boots.

 

I can't see there being split versions of these small dust boots as there just is not enough space to allow for a seam, is you did end up buying new boots, I think that it would be false economy to pay for time to get these TREs off and still in good order and refit them.

 

The rubber on the second picture looked a bit "used" - I'd be eating a few less/smaller/cheaper meals and paying for getting new TREs fitted to that car if you want your spend to stay on target.

 

Edit:- another thing, in the passing:- why can't tyre balancing places not try to fix the weights in the recess provided ?

Edited 4 October, 20169 yr by rum4mo

First pic looks fine IMO,second one is shot and torn if I'm seeing it correctly?(out of focus pic)

As above boots of all sizes are available,but to fit a new boot will cost more in labour than to fit a new TRE as when replacing the TRE you don't need to worry about damaging the threads,so just BFOH it

As above I too doubt a split boot will last for long,as they need gluing together it will never be easy.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_sacat=0&_nkw=track+rod+end+rubber+boots&_frs=1

The split boot kits are only just cheaper than new TRE's

Some of these replacement rubbers are made of terrible quality material and will perish after a very short time. Better off fitting good quality track rod ends.

Honestly - just replace the tre - they're probably shot or on their way out looking, it'll stop another random rattle too