5th gen inner tie rod end boot - possible to replace without re-doing alignment

Anzezaf · Post by **Anzezaf** » Sun Nov 06, 2022 6:06 pm

This car is driving me nuts.. It hasn't been half a year since my last alignment and I've now noticed a broken boot on my steering rack - inner tie rod end boot.

It looks like the boot could be replaced without taking the tie rods apart and screwing up my alignment? Anyone done it?

Post by **vanzep** » Sun Nov 06, 2022 6:54 pm

Think your best to take the tie rod end off - the rack end boot is very narrow at the outer end and dont see how you could get that over the track rod end - just count the number of turns to unscrew it and use same number of turns to put it back in place. I have had to replace the boot on both 4th and 5th gen. Had two different garages - on 4th gen i had to take it for an alignment after and on 5th gen didnt have - so it is a bit of a lottery. If your doing the job yourself you can drive the car and see if it is pulling to one side or not before deciding to fork out for an alignment.

Scott560 · Post by **Scott560** » Sun Nov 06, 2022 8:14 pm

I had my inner tie rod boot replace for the yearly MOT test.

They have to remove it - i did not get an alignment afterwards. They took care to get it back close as possible and test drove it to be sure. I can't tell any difference so unless you have brand new tyres or it feels off afterwards, tracking might not be needed.