Tie Rod Ends on 2005 Maxima
 

I have a 2005 Maxima SE with 103,400 miles on it. Nissan is telling me I need new Tie Rod Ends. A mechanic friend put it on his rack and said that the tie rods have no play in them, but the boots on the end are cracked/worn.
Nissan is telling me since the tie rods are original to the car that I can not just change out the boot ends, I have to get 2 new tie rods (parts and labor for 1 is $215.77, so to get 2 is $431.54).
Is it REALLY TRUE that I can not put on new boots if the tie rods are original to the car?

The boot that attaches to the rack or the boot on the knuckle?

it is the boot on the knuckle

Don't worry about them until there is play, then replace the ends. Replacing boots is a waste of time and $$. And this work is so simple, that going to the stealership does not make any sense.
You need alignment after tie rod ends are replaced and most dealers outsource this work, so you are better off just going to an alignment place (find one who know what they are doing).

this was helpful, thank you

This

How do you know if where you take it to get aligned "knows what they are doing"? I have Lifetime Alignment at Firestone, how do I know if they know what they are doing or not?

Only from experience.