steering rack inner tie rods
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,302
Likes: 2
From: colchester CT
steering rack inner tie rods
I removed my steering rack as I thought I needed new inner tie rods. How can you tell for sure when you have the rack off? The rods dont flop around and they have good resistance and do not seem loose. The outer tie rods are very loose as compared to the new moog ones I bought. Just wondering if this is my problem. When it was all together and I placed my hands at 3 and 9 oclock I had a lot of movement but I could not see it coming from the outers. I had no leaks at all from the steering rack either. I was going to have Turn one rebuild it but their turn around time is 8 to 10 weeks and I am not sure I need a rebuild. They only charge $200 so it seemed worth it but now I am thinking it wasnt the inner tie rods. The car has around 100k on it. I am just hurting a bit for money now. Just need to know how to test the inner tie rods when the rack is off the car. Thanks
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,302
Likes: 2
From: colchester CT
I replaced the hub bearings and the ball joints felt solid. My understanding with the ball joints was to check them by holding the tire on top and at the bottom, 12 and 6 to see if there is movement. When I did this everything was solid. I got underneath to try and see where the movement was and it did not look like it was at the outer tie rods or the ball joints and my mechanic had aligned it after I did all 4 hubs and all the rear bushings, and he said he thought the steering rack might be loose at the inner tie rods. since I did everything else and the car has 100k on it I thought I might be able to change out the rack fairly easily. Now I am thinking that even though I couldnt see it, it may have been the out tie rods. when I got the rack off I can move the out tie rods around and they are just loose and sloppy as hell. I guess I just dont want to pay for a new rack if its not needed, however, it will suck to put the old one back on and find I still have the problem.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,660
Likes: 22
Outside toe rod ends are not bad...approx $30 ea if IIRC... go with that for now, as I am positive it will be an improvement. Reinstall the rack. It WILL be tighter. Inners are wet and protected from dirt & grit so they do not wear like the outer.inner has limited movement as well..less wear.
I am amazed at how long these will go ONLY IF they are bathed in grease. They need to be greased every oil change. Mine has 300,000 miles on the chassis and a FEW of the bushings are starting to get hard and brittle. None of the grease-able joints are shot, and I've only HAD to replace bearings a couple times.
Grease is cheap.
I am amazed at how long these will go ONLY IF they are bathed in grease. They need to be greased every oil change. Mine has 300,000 miles on the chassis and a FEW of the bushings are starting to get hard and brittle. None of the grease-able joints are shot, and I've only HAD to replace bearings a couple times.
Grease is cheap.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
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If the inners are resistive to movement, rule them out.
The outers need replacing. There should be some resistance.
Can you describe the condition of the rack mount rubbers?
Is there any slack in the steering column coupler "rag" joint?
Clamp or tie down the end of the steering shaft and try to move the steering wheel.
The outers need replacing. There should be some resistance.
Can you describe the condition of the rack mount rubbers?
Is there any slack in the steering column coupler "rag" joint?
Clamp or tie down the end of the steering shaft and try to move the steering wheel.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,302
Likes: 2
From: colchester CT
If the inners are resistive to movement, rule them out.
The outers need replacing. There should be some resistance.
Can you describe the condition of the rack mount rubbers?
Is there any slack in the steering column coupler "rag" joint?
Clamp or tie down the end of the steering shaft and try to move the steering wheel.
The outers need replacing. There should be some resistance.
Can you describe the condition of the rack mount rubbers?
Is there any slack in the steering column coupler "rag" joint?
Clamp or tie down the end of the steering shaft and try to move the steering wheel.
