M38 tie rod end grease covers or "boots"

[alpino]

I am trying to find a source for M38 tie rod end grease covers or "boots". I have one rubber one left, and a nice metal one, with a spring inside. I found rubber ones on Ebay, but are the originals metal or rubber? and if metal [steel stampings] where can I get them? THANKS

[evanso1975]

Page 261 of the ORD 9 shows a "grease retaining cover" and a spring (spring appears to be on the 'nut' side of the cover). Doesn't say if the cover is metal or rubber though. Since rubber ones by their nature have a certain amount of 'spring' in them and probably wouldn't require the springs, I guess the originals shown in the ORD 9 are steel? Ryan Miller's reference guide seems to show replacement tie rod ends having rubber boots, and the original factory ones appear to be metal with the spring.

Short of looking for NOS tie rod ends, I don't know where you'd get metal ones from. Maybe checking with some of the parts vendors will help?

[alpino]

Thanks Evanso1975. I have one steel one [with spring] and the other three are rubber, very rotten from age. wear, etc. The replacement "knuckles" or tie rod ends [from NAPA etc] come with rubber boots. I asked the fellows there if I could just get just the rubber piece, they said "great idea, but we only sell the rods ends w. the rubber boot. So if anyone has seen the metal ones, could you tell me where to find one. THANKS

ps. perhaps the junkyard, but they are leery of such small orders... and there are no M38 within a few states. There might be a CJ-3A do those have the same tie rod ends?

[Bretto]

You can get rubber boots that will fit. They had them at autozone and pepboys on the shelf. 'Help!' brand. Not genuine but they work.

[alpino]

Thanks Bretto. The nearest Pepboys is about 12 hours away at 80mph... but there is a Autozone in Helena, about 90 minutes away, so I will hit it next hockey game or on way to elk hunting. THANKS