Replacement of Tie Rod Boots on 87 Maxima

Interesting... all the boots I have replaced had what I'd describe as a very narrow hose clamp. You may be justified in your concern about the wire cutting through the boot. The problem with the tie-wrap may be one of getting it tight enough... and I would also have some concerns about the longevity. How wide is this wire? How are you supposed to tighten this wire? Could you put some type of tubing on the wire to increase the wires surface area on the boot? Teflon tubing comes to mind.

All the replacement boot I have seen also use a narrow hose clamp or zip tie. The Nissan wire is .053 " (1.3 mm) diameter. The wire is tightened similar to a twist tie, but it has a loop at each end where you can put a rod (or screwdriver) through it to get more torque. Yes, I could put a tube around the wire, my only concern would it would have to be strong tubing to resist cutting. This Nissan wire has been around for while, I am surprised it is still used.

The teflon tubing that I'm thinking of is very tough. It's used for electronic appications where good abrasion and temperature resistance are needed.

This is what I was talking about... sold by the foot.