I have been looking at the catalogs and ebay for tie rod ends for my 55.1. It appears to be original of the old style. It is shaped like a beer bottle, with the smaller diameter or neck screwed over the threads of the tie rod. Where the lable of the beer bottle would be, there is a stud protruding with a ball inside the bottle. There is no boot covering the place where the ball goes inside the tie rod end.
1. Do the tie rod ends usually need replacing or just rebuilding?
2. Is there a recommended source for these that would also supply a boot? (I assume a boot usually went over this to keep the grease where it is needed.)
3. Is the cotter pin the only thing, apart from rust and inertia, that is keeping the large screw in the bottom of the beer bottle?
