After some time I kept noticing that the passenger side of the tie rod is always wet. I usually dismissed it as excess grease.

But then I decided to pump some grease and see. Damnit, it has a tiny hole where it seeps out. How bad should it worry ? I currently the Lucas Xtra duty green grease.

Some folks tell me that not to worry. Just keep it greased every few months. ANyways, ordered new boots but will take time to arrive.

I would not worry about it at all. Just grease it when you oil change and call it a day.

^^^

Yep.

Grease is oil mixed with soap to provide adequate "cling" for the period between lubes for the parts lubrication needs.

The boots on ball joints are to help prevent washout and dirt from being introduced into the grease and resulting in wear. (many parts have no extra protection, but are lubed more frequently).

Many boots will "give" and excess/old grease will be forced out during lube jobs.

As long as the joint is not run dry, you will be fine.

A pinhole in a boot is nothing. I wouldn't even mess with it. But if you must, the wrong technique to separate the tie rod from the steering arm will do more harm than good.

cool, I guess you guys reinforced what I was thinking. It is wet around the edge of the boot but I can tell there's green grease inside.

Glad is the tie rod and not the draglink which does more movement. I know that when it goes on rain or floods I will need to pump grease couple times just to make sure is not too diluted.

Funny that my JK does seems more sensible when it comes to boots compared to my rav4 which is not greaseable.

anyways thanks

The Jeep was designed for the army. Lots of soldiers with time on their hands to do minor maintenance like greasing. The places it went and will go greatly exceed the places the Rav4 is capable of. The Rav4 is replaceable, so if it fails, just buy another.