Replacing steering boot seals

[Dino]

I found that the seals on the steering linkage were in bad shape so I got this kit: http://www.rosevillemoparts.com/product_info.php/p/boot-seal-package-68-72-b-body/products_id/7877?SID

I can see that if I remove the idler arm from the k member and separate the outer tie rod ends from the knuckles, the whole thing will come off the car.  The pitman arm was removed with the steering gear last week.  That way I can put the assembly on the work bench, clean it all up and seperate the parts and replace the worn seals.  Irented a good puller from Autozone to do the job.  Do I need any special tool to install the seals?

The kit also comes with upper and lower ball joint seals.  What's the procedure for replacing those?  Do I need to take the tension off the torsion bars or can I leave them be?  I'm replacing the front drums with discs using the stock drum spindles.  Anything I need to watch for?

[Dino]

Can anyone help me with these seals?  I have no clue how to remove the old ones, and which new seals go where.  The original ones ar a complete mess.  The pitman arm seal is ripped to shreds but the remains are held in place by a ring somehow, no clue how to remove it.

[Dino]

Well what's new right, does it ever go as planned? 

I removed the steering linkage from outer tie rod to outer tie rod.  All of the dust boots were busted, although one of the outer tie rod boots was decent.  The kit I bought comes with all the dust boots yet for the idler arm there is only one felt seal instead of two.  The boot that was on my pitman arm had a large metal ring incorporated which threw me off because there is no such ring in the new seal.  The ring is pressed over the arm and holds the boot in place.  Basically they give you a fifth tie rod boot to use on the pitman arm.  Without a way to secure the boot, this is not going to be as efficient.  I emailed steer and gear about their redesigned boots so hopefully those will work better.  The stock tie rod boots don't seem to have a retainer though so maybe the ones I bought are fine.  It's a messed up design if you ask me!

I found that the left outer tie rod is different from the right side, as in they are different brands, but the difference is beneath the boot.  They are also not equally tuned out which explains why the car tracks fine but the steering wheel is not centered.   

At this point I have to make a decision on cleaning up the parts I have, install proper boots, align wheels and steering wheel, or buy new parts which then poses the question stay with stock or upgrade to c body tie rods and/or solid sleeves.

Honestly I think the stock parts are fine for a street car and having split sleeves as the weakest link is probably a good thing when you're in a crash, but I'd like to get some opinions on this. 

[Dino]

I guess I have to figure this stuff out myself...

After lots of cleaning I found the tie rods look like crap.  Gouges everywhere so someone has been using the bfh on them.  All dust boots were shot and ball joints are full of crap.  Grinding noises galore.  Connector sleeves have marks, one is bent.  Comparing the angle of the tie rods in the sleeves shows that one has a 10 degree bend compared to the other.  None of the tie rods are screwed in evenly, not even close.  Why this car tracks straight is a mystery to me.  All this stuff needs to be replaced so I might as well get the c body stuff.  Advice on split sleeve versus solid is appreciated though.   

[tan top]

 have you got a good picture of the new dust boots/ seals !!   I would imagine they are generic boots , loosely  patterend after mopar ones  ,   there are many different styles on boots on on various suspension ball joints steering components  etc   used by different aftermarket manufactures , even they change the style some times   for no reason , or depending where that brand is made ,  that metal ring on the pitman arm , is like a expansion ring , it needs to be carfully pryed up over a lip in the top of the ball joint socket thingy .  to fit you just press it down  may be use a use a thin screw driver in side the ring to open it up , so one side of the ring is sliding down the screw driver , don't for get to lub the boot , & be careful not to damage it . I honestly think , this repop boot seal kit  , the pitman arm boot / seal  is  not be designed with the expansion ring in mind !  it might be though   don't think they come like it from the factory , ( will check my original later ) , need pictures  

  having said this , if these repop boots are exactly like OEM ,  they might not fit exactly right , if you  ball joints etc are aftermarket .  hope this  makes sense  

[oldcarnut]

I put C-Body stuff on mine

[tan top]

I put C-Body stuff on mine

yeah !  I had C body tie rod adjuster sleeves , in the PST  kit I bought .   think I might have gone with solid steel sleeves , now   , but all this kind of stuff was not available when I was buying parts for the resto , C body set up was the the thing to do then 

[Dino]

The boot kit is aftermarket so there are no retainer rings to speak of.  My suspension is proably stock but who knows at this point.  The tie rod boots don't have a ring either.  I just don't see how these boots will retain the grease if there's nothing to hold them onto the part!  The only pitman arm seal with a retainer ring is $45, a little pricey but I'll get it if it does the job.  The one in this kit is just another tie rod boot.  I heard back from steer and gear and their improved design oots don't have a retainer ring either.

I don't know what to do with the tie rods I have.  I can clean them up and put the seals back on or I can buy the c body ones.  They're only $20 each but if the ones I have work then it's just wasted money. I do think I'll get the PST solid sleeves though.  Only $50 for the pair and my sleeves definitely can stand replacing.

I just finished cleaning the suspension parts, 90% of it anyway, and all of the seals are shredded.  It took me hours to clean up this mess.

Now, how do I remove the upper and lower ball joints?  The uppers are cheap so I don't mind busting those but I'd like to keep the lowers.  There's nothing wrong with those.

[71 SE3834V]

The Calvary is coming......with ball joint socket in tow.

[oldcarnut]

I borrowed  the ball socket from wither advance or autozone tool loan out   Came with several others front end tools also.  Here's a few seal pics if they help any  http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,63768.0.html

[Dino]

The Calvary is coming......with ball joint socket in tow.

   

I got the lowers off as soon as I realized I didn't need a special tool for those so the uppers are all that is left before we takle the bushings.   

Nice job on that suspension oldcarnut.      I'll probaby go with all Moog myself, including the offset uca bushings.