I've been under truck for an hour and online for two hours trying to figure out how to remove the boot from the tie rod can you help?

try going google and typing in-- labor hours for dodge ram 2002 ---
remember that you have to add up all the hours for each job
for example remove and replace a ball joint may be .3 hours but to get to the ball joints there will be
remove and refit wheel, .1 hrs
remove calliper .5 hours etc
so the remove and replace the ball joint total will add up to 1 hour
if you get a pdf version down load you will see what I mean

There is a special tool to do this.

Procedure on replacing the inner tie rod ends:


1) Raise and safely support the vehicle.

2) Remove the front wheel/tire assembly.

3) Clean the steering rod between the steering boot and outer tie rod end lock nut with a suitable penetrating lubricant and a clean cloth or shop towel.

4) Loosen the outer tie rod end locking nut 1/8 turn.

5) Loosen the steering boot clamp(s), and slide the small clamp off the boot.

6) Carefully loosen the boot and slide outward off the steering rack and onto the shaft to expose the inner steering rod mounting fastener.

7) If necessary, position the inner steering rack shaft in or out to allow for additional access.

8) Relieve the steering rod nut locking tab from the inner steering rack shaft, then loosen the steering rod ball socket nut 1 turn.

9) Matchmark the tie rod end to the threaded shaft.

10) Remove the cotter key and castle nut from the outer tie rod end threaded spindle, and using a tie rod end removal tool, remove the tie rod from the steering knuckle.

11) Hold the tie rod with a wrench, and remove the outer tie rod end from the threaded rod, counting the number of complete turns it takes to remove the tie rod end from the shaft. Write the number of turns on a piece of note paper.

12) Remove the tie rod end lock nut from the threaded steering shaft.

13) Slide the steering rack boot off the shaft.

14) Remove the inner steering rod ball socket nut from the inner steering rack shaft.

To install:

1) Inspect the tie rod end for looseness, and the steering rack boot and tie rod end boot for cracks deterioration or damage and replace as necessary.

2) Clean steering rack shaft and apply a light coating of Genuine Honda Power steering fluid as necessary.

3) Apply a medium strength locking agent to the threads where the inner steering rod ball socket mounts. Use a new locking washer and a new stop washer, and install the inner tie rod onto the steering rack shaft.

4) Tighten the inner tie rod end fastener by 58 ft. lbs. (78 Nm)

5) Peen the lock washer over the nut or onto the flat surface of the steering rack shaft.

6) Apply silicone grease to the outer circumference of the inner tie rod end ball socket, and onto the groove just outside of the socket.

7) Apply silicone grease to the inside of the small end of the steering rack boot, and slide the boot over the steering shaft and onto the rack and install the boot clamps. If the boot has air hose fittings make sure they are installed as removed.

8) Apply a light film of an anti-seize compound onto the threaded tie rod end, and install the tie rod end lock nut.

9) Install the tie rod end onto the tie rod, turning it in exactly the number of turns it took to remove it.

10) Install the tie rod end following the tie rod end installation procedure.

11) The balance of installation is the reverse of the removal procedure.

12) Check the front end alignment and adjust as necessary.

beat the **** out of them

ok, Tie rods don't have boots. The only thing up front with a boot is the CV joint. You have to use a cutter to remove the bands from a CV joint however, unless your trying to repair the joint you don't want to do that. There is no lubrication point inside the boot you need to reach. If for some reason you need to remove that boot you need to get a CV joint Boot Repair kit to do this as it will have replacement bands to use in the repair. Because of the nature of a CV joint and it's importance to operating correctly I don't recommend trying to do a Joint repair on your own. On the Tie Rod typically you will replace the out end. You need to have a tie Rod puller to remove the tie rod end off the "A" frame after you have released the lock nut in the center then simply unscrew the tie rod end. You'll want to make sure you mark the old tie rod somehow so you can put beside the new part and mark it so you know how far to screw that in so the Alignment matches, as close as possible. The tie rod puller is a special tool you can get from Auto Zone to remove the Tie rod end from the "A" frame.

Simply jack the vehicle up / remove the wheel on that side / removed the split pin and castellated nut on the tie rod end / using a soft hammer or ball joint splitter hit the end of the ball joint arm till the tie rod falls out / loosen the tie rod lock nut then unscrew the tie rod. Remove the boot clips / clamps and remove the torn rack boot. Replacement is the reverse of the above.
NB = A wheel alignment is required to correct the adjustment of the tie rod end ASAP.

Buy or borrow a tie rod end separator (like a smaller version of a ball-buster), loosen the nut, and drive the separator in to pry the shaft out. After you get the tie rod separated, you will have to loosen the retaining bolt on the end of the CV joint. Considering the age of the vehicle, you may want to just replace the tie rod ends. The job is a royal pain in the arse, and I am taking my PT Cruiser into the transmission shop tomorrow to let them do it. They quoted me 2 hours of labor for $150, although a lot of shops charge more than $75 an hour.

Hi Gcg_77,
You will need to contact your local auto parts store to get price for the tie rod ends.My flat rate manual listed them at $65 a piece but this is an old price.
The labor time listed for these are as follows:

1 inner tie rod end is listed at 1.4 hours,if you replace both it is listed at 2.0 hours.
1 outer tie rod end is listed at 1.1 hours,if you replace both it is listed at 1.4 hours.
These times include resetting the toe only. If you want a complete alignment you deduct 0.4 hours labor and charge full alignment price.
Hope this helps. If you need anything else,let me know. Thanks,Chuck

yes total bs. A good front end shop should only charge about 3 hours for this job. I can do it in about a hour and a half.

If it is the inner tie rod you are working on it need to be threaded out on some you can get with a wrench but most you will need an inner tie rod tool. Look at your replacement tie rod you will see the threads and two flat spots that is where the wrench goes. Please rate.