Well let me start off by saying I am working on a complete 5 lug suspension swap, and ES bushing replacement, among other things. The car is pretty much a track only car and sees little street use besides my random weekend spirited street driving.

So in the process of taking off all of my OEM DX civic brake parts I ripped the ball joint boot on my drivers side steering pinion ball joint. It appears as though the ball joint is somewhat worn and may have needed to be replaced anyways. I did however recieve a set of ball joint boots with my ES master bushing kit. The OEm balljoint boots seem to have a small metal ring inside of them that helps to keep the graese in. the ES poly boot has nothing and I am not sure of how i would go about installing these or if they would even solve my problem.( no instructions with these ones)

Besides tring to use my ES replacement parts my other options include these.

1. go to the Honda dealer and buy a brand new steering pinion, maybe two. (since I do not have a press and i am not really sure how to replace a ball joint anyways)
price= $?

2. fork out a little extra money and get a set of the SRR racing steering pinions with the spherical bushings. (new joints but no boots) maybe I could get those ES peices to fit on these and provide some kind of protection
price= $100 shipped

Just so that everyone knows this is my first major suspension build up and I am somewhat new to the real technical stuff. I have read a lot though and have also learned a lot during my present project. I am really just looking for some advice on the pinion situation, ease of ball joint reaplcement, and any possible experience with the ES ball joint boots.

But I know how everyone is so lets here it

 

first of all, this has nothing to do with this RR/AX.

secondly, im assuming youre talking about the OUTER TIE ROD BALLJOINT as it is typically called. your wording makes it seem like youre talking about the INNER tie rod balljoint that has the accordian boot at the end of the steering rack.

from my experience, the ES boot actually DOESNT NEED the metal circlip to seal the balljoint from grease. you just pack the grease in, install and any excess grease will squeeze out and you just clean it up. some more might still come out, but theyll be plenty in there. the ES boots are so thick and meaty, i prefer them much more than the OEM boots.

the OEM boots however are really cheap. so thats a plus side. but id rather have the protection of the ES poly boots than the thin OEM boots, that usually get messed up when im not careful about separating the balljoint.

to replace that OUTER balljoint, you have to buy the whole new OUTER TIE ROD. $40 each. not bad really. just gotta make sure the car is aligned after youre done. if the car was perfectly aligned before, then you can get the car aligned by just adjusting it by eye until the car goes straight again.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Tyson &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">first of all, this has nothing to do with this RR/AX.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Well it is a racing setup, and honestly if I asked anywhere else I probly wouldn't have been able to get an ansewer.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Tyson &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">secondly, im assuming youre talking about the OUTER TIE ROD BALLJOINT as it is typically called. your wording makes it seem like youre talking about the INNER tie rod balljoint that has the accordian boot at the end of the steering rack. </TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Jon V &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Just so that everyone knows this is my first major suspension build up and I am somewhat new to the real technical stuff/terminalogy. </TD></TR></TABLE>

My bad, you are right though I am reffering to the outer Tie Rod balljoint

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Tyson &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">from my experience, the ES boot actually DOESNT NEED the metal circlip to seal the balljoint from grease. you just pack the grease in, install and any excess grease will squeeze out and you just clean it up. some more might still come out, but theyll be plenty in there. the ES boots are so thick and meaty, i prefer them much more than the OEM boots.

the OEM boots however are really cheap. so thats a plus side. but id rather have the protection of the ES poly boots than the thin OEM boots, that usually get messed up when im not careful about separating the balljoint.

to replace that OUTER balljoint, you have to buy the whole new OUTER TIE ROD. $40 each. not bad really. just gotta make sure the car is aligned after youre done. if the car was perfectly aligned before, then you can get the car aligned by just adjusting it by eye until the car goes straight again. </TD></TR></TABLE>

So you would say just go pick up some OEM Tie Rods and install the ES boots?
even though for about the same price I could get the SRR spherical bushing peices?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Tyson &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">first of all, this has nothing to do with this RR/AX.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Well to me this is one of the only real technical frums, so I come here for ansewers, and the SRR peices are <U>race use only</U> only parts.

If I got new Tie rods would they come with the OEM boots already installed?
How do you get the OEM boots with the metal washers or clips off? - for the rest of my ball joints.

 

Get OEM parts

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Get OEM parts</TD></TR></TABLE>

looks like I will be making a trip to the stealership tonight

Thanks for the input fellas