Crumbling OEM Rubber Boots
I own a C5 Corvette, and I just replaced my tie rod end with MOOG parts. My C5 is lowered with T1 front leaf springs, and I was surprised that my tie rod end boots had already split. I’m not sure why, I didn’t put many miles on my Corvette, but I suspect that it may have been because of the lowered suspension or from when I got it aligned. When the front end is aligned, the tie rods get twisted, and that could have caused the split.
I had just installed a set of Moog tie rods on my C5, but as you can see in the photos, the rubber cracked, split, and peeled back — exposing the ball stud directly to road grime, water, and heat.
Energy Suspension Polyurethane Tie Rod End Boots
Rather than buying another Moog dust boot, I bought some Energy Suspension Polyurethane Tie Rod End Boots. These are made from Energy Suspension’s proprietary Hyper-Flex polyurethane — the same material they’ve built their suspension bushing reputation on for decades. Poly doesn’t crack, split, or degrade the way rubber does under heat cycling and UV exposure.
| Part Details: Energy Suspension Tie Rod End Boots | |
|---|---|
| Brand | Energy Suspension |
| Part Number | 9.13101R |
| Material | Hyper-Flex Polyurethane |
| Color | Red |
| Qty Per Pack | 2 boots |
| Made In | USA |
| Tested Application | C5 Corvette / Moog outer tie rods |
Old vs. New
Setting the old boot next to the new Energy Suspension polyurethane tie rod end boot you can see the difference. The rubber boot sits taller, but the rubber wall is much thinner. The red poly boot is shorter but much thicker. Fitment on the Moog outer tie rod end was snug and secure with no modification needed.
I picked the polyurethane since I had done the rest of my suspension with polyurethane bushings and it wasn’t that much money for the upgrade.
Installed on the C5 Corvette
Installation took only a few minutes per side. The Energy Suspension Polyurethane Tie Rod End Boot seats firmly over the tie rod socket, and the opening fits snugly around the ball stud. There is no metal clip ring like the Moog, but it sits over the top with a tight fit.
Final Verdict
So far the tie rod end boots have been fine and haven’t split or leaked grease on my C5 Corvette. It’s a cheap replacement from Moog, and the Energy Suspension Polyurethane Tie Rod End Boots seem like a better option.
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