Tie Rod Rubber Boots Ripper Off?? :(

[BCRyan]

So last weekend I spent 3 days up on the Coquihalla, snow was really deep and it was cold. I had a ton of ice build up on my sled. It seems like snow melting under the hood was making its way down to the boots that come off the fornt of the body and cover the tie rods (not the little boots over the tie rod ends by the skis). Eventually these things froze solid and ripped the boots off. The entire inside of the boots were a block of ice, about the size of a football cut in half. this happened on both sides.

I have put close to 1000 miles on the sled since I have had it but I usually only do day rides and things thaw out at home when I come down form the MTN.

Has anyone else had these boots rip off? Is there a fix or aftermarket parts that work better? Without these boots a lot of snow will get in under the engine, by the time I got home I took the exhaust off and chiselled 6" thick pieces of solid ice out from the engine compartment.

These boots are like $30 a piece and appear to be a lot of work to install, don't want to put them back on if they are just going to rip off again?

Thanks

 

[03RMK800]

Was that an American football or a rest of the world football size?

Haven't had that extent of ice buildup, but I get it on my A Arms and steering rods to the point it interferes with steering. Have to stop and beat the ice off the underside once in a while.

 

[Bert the bod]

The exact same thing happened to me last year, and I haven't replaced them yet. I don't see a need for them, like you I'm worried they will pack with ice again and rip off again

 

[mil81]

Did the boots actually "rip" or did the ice just push them out of their location and now they just hang off the tie rods? Mine weren't damaged, but hanging off the tie rods. I was able to drill the rivets out of the aluminum ring that holds these boots on. You can then re-install the boot, rivet the ring back on and you are golden. Took me a total of 20 minutes to do both sides

 

[OffOrWFO]

Who is and isnt running a skid plate? Never had that problem but I run a skid plate. Could be the difference.

 

[mil81]

Mine did not have a skid plate. It was pretty easy to lay the sled over, drill out the rivets (with long bit), pull the plate, re-install the boots and rivet the plate back on. Only cost a few rivets