What is most important to replace on my car (tie rod end, control arm, or cv boot)?

First, I recommend buying the Haynes manual for your make and model. Costs $20, and will save you a fortune. Jack up the wheel with alleged torn CV boot, and have a look. A torn rubber boot isn't awful, but it will, over time, let grease out and dirt in, so the joint will wear out. Look inside the tear, and if you don't see dirt, you likely don't have significant damage, yet, to the joint. You could replace just the boot, but the replacement will not be as good as original, because original is a tube, whereas replacement has one side split open, to allow wrapping, so there's a built in weakness. Might just wrap existing boot with a strip from a Target store plastic bag, about 3 or 4 wraps, then tie it tightly on each end with wire. This might buy several years of time, assuming the joint inside isn't already compromised.

Don't know history of car, how many miles it has, but opinions vary wildly about how bad a control arm and tie rod end must be to require replacement. If it handles OK, tire wear is even, if it tracks straight when you let go the wheel for a second, it might have a lot of safe driving left in it. While up on the jackstand, yank the tire side to side, looking for slack at the tie rod end. The control arm and tie rod end are weird joints, a lot like your shoulder bones -- want to allow rotation in 2 axes of motion while controlling rotation int he third. If it ever lets go, you stop being a driver and become a passenger with no warning -- you don't want to be there when that happens.

Replace the tie rod end first. If you lose that, the rest of it won't matter. You may be in a ditch, or worse. Then, do the control arm. Leave the boot for last. Depending on the mileage on your car, changing the whole axle is not a bad way to go if the car is worth keeping, etc. I would listen to the Audi guy long before I'd listen to the Goodyear guy. Maybe ask around about a reliable and honest European car shop, have the front end evaluated, (possibly for free), and go from there.

One last thought; $350 for one side, new axle and boot is high. You should be able to get both sides done for around that much.

Tie Rod In Spanish

They're all important. A torn CV boot can leak out the axle grease and running the CV joint dry may require a new axle shaft.

Play within the tie rod ends and control arms means less precise steering control, uneven tire wear, and vehicle safety.

get a second opinion on the axle. the arm and the tie rod are more important than the boot.

cv boot replacement should run no more than 150 bux.

forget about the boot for right now because the joint can go awhile longer ! and the control arm bushings can last a little bit longer but you need to get that tie rod changed now because if it would drop off you would lose control of your car !

go with the tie rod and control arm first

If the tie rod goes you won't have any steering