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NTB.. alignment tore my boot?

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Old Aug 19, 2007 | 04:45 AM
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mxl36o
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1999 Accord 4 cyl
 
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Default NTB.. alignment tore my boot?

It's been 3 months since alignment, I was under the car today and notice the passenger side boot ripped (located after the steering rack [replaced 2 months ago] there's a rubber boot- is this the inner or outer tie rod boot?? )

Well this boot ripped...on the passenger side. So i looked at the driver side and its twisted bad..[indian burn] (like they aligned the rods, but never loosen the zip tie on the boot..... so they turned the rod along w/ the boot still tied to it)

I'm gonna take off the zip ties to twist it back to shape. But the passenger side.... would I need a new rod w/boot (is it inner or outer rod? )
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Old Aug 19, 2007 | 05:21 AM
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m735is
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steering rack dust boot or bellow

They should turn freely, so you should just able to twist it back into shape. Unless your "zipties" are really tight.

If your alignment is warrantied, you can remove the outer tie rod on the ripped side, replace the bellow and get it realigned. Otherwise, you'll have to mark the outer tie rod and put it back in the same place.
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Old Aug 19, 2007 | 05:48 AM
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mxl36o
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Originally Posted by m735is
steering rack dust boot or bellow

They should turn freely, so you should just able to twist it back into shape. Unless your "zipties" are really tight.

If your alignment is warrantied, you can remove the outer tie rod on the ripped side, replace the bellow and get it realigned. Otherwise, you'll have to mark the outer tie rod and put it back in the same place.
I got the 1 year warrantee... How should I go about replacing the boot... what/how do I unscrew it?
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Old Aug 19, 2007 | 03:25 PM
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I haven't done one on an Accord yet, but it should be close to or the same as my Civic.

I had to pop the tie rod out of the knuckle, mark the location of the stop nut on the tie rod, unscrew the outer tie rod, then clipped the boot clamps off, pulled out the little rubber vent hose and slid it off.
As long as you're fairly close to getting the outer tie rod back in the same spot, you should be able to drive it back to get another alignment.
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Old Aug 21, 2007 | 05:30 PM
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someone told me i'll need to special tool to replace the boot?
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Old Aug 23, 2007 | 05:28 PM
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m735is
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The tool is for the metal hold down strap. Usually the replacement boots come with a strap that has little teeth on it and you fold the flaps over to hold it. Or a screw type clamp. Or a zip tie.
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