WTF broke both upper control arm boots

[iwillnc]

I can't say for sure but I thought the last time I looked at my upper control arms they were grease free, Today I went wheeling and when I got home I was cleaning it and I noticed theirs a slit on both of the boots on the side facing the tire where grease was piled up.

I'm thinking of just cleaning it up and putting RTV over the crack or duct tape, but this is rediculous if they really did both break, I haven't looked at the strength of the ball joint on either, about 600 miles ago a mechanic checked the whole steering and it all was good

So now i have a 2 cracked upper control arms boots and 1 cracked tie-rod boot

Lord have mercy.. I'm done wheeling for a while for certain


It was probably medium wheeling, power lines a 50-60% incline at times bumpy... lil mud...

How urgent is this? Can I hold off as long as long the joints are good, The cracks are equal to or less then a centimeter long

Anyone else had this problem, or does anyone currently have this and deal with it or what not?

[DRTYFN]

It happens.

[timgco]

clean the boots and throw some RTV over the cracks for now. That will help keep more debris from getting in.

Those boots do rip from time to time...esp with age. More than likely it wasn't due to off roading your truck....unless you were running through chunks of mud/ ice. That'll do it.

Go on ebay and search tierod or balljoint. You'll find full kits on there for cheap. They are not OEM, but a cheap alternative.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Upper-Lower-Ball-Joint-Joints-Tie-Rod-Idler-Pitman-Arm-/220701077935?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories &fits=Model%3AH2%7CMake%3AHummer&hash=item3362cf31 af

However, I prefer using Moog replacments. They are tougher than OEM IMO.

http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/details/QQHummerQQH2QQMoogQQBall_JointQQ20032008QQMOK6693. html


BTW, once those boots rip, those joint are ticking timebombs to fail. It could be a day, it could be a year. It really depends how much crap got in there.

[iwillnc]

Alright I RTVed both of them, gonna check for leaks again tomorrow after it's dried...


When I was under there I noticed that the boot on either the pitman or idler, not familier enough yet to know the difference... but it was on the drivers side had a busted boot as well....


So...

2 Tierods
2 Upper control arms
1 pitman or idler

I have warranty from an Extended company... so I might just let them do it and stay with the stock for a lil longer since then all I have to pay is the $200 deductible

Still want those dmax kryptonite tierods... but freeness trumps cool stuff