Replacing Front Inner Tie Rods
07-01-2015, 01:15 PM
#1
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Replacing Front Inner Tie Rods
My inner tie rods are loose so I'm replacing them with the MOOG replacements. I'm a little confused by a couple steps in the removal and installation Specifically:
How do I avoid doing this? I bought the special removal tool. Do I just put it on and turn counter clockwise not needing to put a wrench to stop anything on the rack from moving?
So I'm not supposed to hold the rack while removing but am when installing/torquing? Since I'm doing this later and I don't have the picture from the FSM I'm just trying to get an understanding of what I'm doing.
_________________________________
ack and Pinion Inner Tie Rod Replacement
Special Tools
J 34028 Inner Tie Rod Wrench
Removal Procedure
Raise the vehicle. Support the vehicle with suitable safety stands.
Remove the tire and wheel assembly from the vehicle. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation.
Note: After removing the boot, inspect the inner tie rod for evidence of corrosion or contamination. If none is evident, continue with the repair. If corrosion or contamination is evident, replace the steering gear.
Remove the rack and pinion boot. Refer to Rack and Pinion Boot Replacement.
Caution: Do not change the rack bearing preload adjustment before removing the inner tie rod from the steering rack. This could cause damage to the pinion or the steering rack or both.
Remove the shock dampener (2) from the inner tie rod (5).
Slide the shock dampener (2) back onto the rack (1).
Note: Do not hold the steering rack while removing the inner tie rod if the preload adjustment has not been changed.
Remove the inner tie rod (5) from the rack assembly (1) as follows:
• Place a wrench on the flats of the inner tie rod housing (4).
• Rotate the inner tie rod housing (4) counterclockwise until the inner tie rod (5) separates from the rack.
Remove the old LOCTITE® from the threads (2) of the rack (1) and the inner tie rod (3).
Installation Procedure
Note: Make sure the shock dampener is on the rack before installing the inner tie rod.
The threads must be clean prior to the LOCTITE® application. Check the LOCTITE®, or equivalent, container for expiration date. Use only enough LOCTITE® to evenly coat the threads.
Apply LOCTITE® 262, or equivalent, to the inner tie rod threads (2).
Install the inner tie rod (3) to the rack and pinion (1).
Caution: Refer to Fastener Caution in the Preface section.
Install a torque wrench (5) to the J 34028 to tighten the inner tie rod.
Hold the rack (3) while tightening the tie rod (4) as shown.
Tighten
Tighten the inner tie rod (6) to 100 N·m (74 lb ft).
Slide the shock dampener (2) over the inner tie rod housing (3) until the front lip of the shock dampener bottoms out against the inner tie rod housing.
Install the rack and pinion boot. Refer to Rack and Pinion Boot Replacement.
Install the tire and wheel assembly to the vehicle. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation.
Remove the safety stands.
Lower the vehicle.
Check the wheel alignment. Refer to Wheel Alignment Measurement.
Caution: Do not change the rack bearing preload adjustment before removing the inner tie rod from the steering rack. This could cause damage to the pinion or the steering rack or both.
...
Note: Do not hold the steering rack while removing the inner tie rod if the preload adjustment has not been changed.
...
Note: Do not hold the steering rack while removing the inner tie rod if the preload adjustment has not been changed.
Install a torque wrench (5) to the J 34028 to tighten the inner tie rod.
Hold the rack (3) while tightening the tie rod (4) as shown.
Tighten
Tighten the inner tie rod (6) to 100 N·m (74 lb ft)
Hold the rack (3) while tightening the tie rod (4) as shown.
Tighten
Tighten the inner tie rod (6) to 100 N·m (74 lb ft)
_________________________________
ack and Pinion Inner Tie Rod Replacement
Special Tools
J 34028 Inner Tie Rod Wrench
Removal Procedure
Raise the vehicle. Support the vehicle with suitable safety stands.
Remove the tire and wheel assembly from the vehicle. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation.
Note: After removing the boot, inspect the inner tie rod for evidence of corrosion or contamination. If none is evident, continue with the repair. If corrosion or contamination is evident, replace the steering gear.
Remove the rack and pinion boot. Refer to Rack and Pinion Boot Replacement.
Caution: Do not change the rack bearing preload adjustment before removing the inner tie rod from the steering rack. This could cause damage to the pinion or the steering rack or both.
Remove the shock dampener (2) from the inner tie rod (5).
Slide the shock dampener (2) back onto the rack (1).
Note: Do not hold the steering rack while removing the inner tie rod if the preload adjustment has not been changed.
Remove the inner tie rod (5) from the rack assembly (1) as follows:
• Place a wrench on the flats of the inner tie rod housing (4).
• Rotate the inner tie rod housing (4) counterclockwise until the inner tie rod (5) separates from the rack.
Remove the old LOCTITE® from the threads (2) of the rack (1) and the inner tie rod (3).
Installation Procedure
Note: Make sure the shock dampener is on the rack before installing the inner tie rod.
The threads must be clean prior to the LOCTITE® application. Check the LOCTITE®, or equivalent, container for expiration date. Use only enough LOCTITE® to evenly coat the threads.
Apply LOCTITE® 262, or equivalent, to the inner tie rod threads (2).
Install the inner tie rod (3) to the rack and pinion (1).
Caution: Refer to Fastener Caution in the Preface section.
Install a torque wrench (5) to the J 34028 to tighten the inner tie rod.
Hold the rack (3) while tightening the tie rod (4) as shown.
Tighten
Tighten the inner tie rod (6) to 100 N·m (74 lb ft).
Slide the shock dampener (2) over the inner tie rod housing (3) until the front lip of the shock dampener bottoms out against the inner tie rod housing.
Install the rack and pinion boot. Refer to Rack and Pinion Boot Replacement.
Install the tire and wheel assembly to the vehicle. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation.
Remove the safety stands.
Lower the vehicle.
Check the wheel alignment. Refer to Wheel Alignment Measurement.
07-02-2015, 10:06 AM
#2
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
So I did this last night. It wasn't too difficult. I didn't hold the rack in place when torquing the inner back on. I'm not sure how you would even do that as there's no flats on the rack to keep it from moving.
07-02-2015, 02:40 PM
#3
Race Director
Member Since: Dec 2002
Location: Baltimore suburbs Maryland
Posts: 10,233
Received 17 Likes
on
17 Posts
Great post, thanks - I'm about to pull my steering rack to replace the harmonic balancer, AC compressor and I need new outer tie rods so I might as well replace the inner ones while I'm at it. Any other gotchas I should know about?
07-02-2015, 03:20 PM
#4
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
There's nothing special to it. I would definitely recommend renting or buying an inner tie rod tool. I bought one for $50 off Amazon. I had to use that tool to help get the plastic shock dampener off the flats. That was the hardest part. Again, the instructions state not to hold the rack when removing the tie rod but said you want to when reinstalling as so not to damage the rack and pinion. I couldn't see how you would hold the rack in place because it was round and there weren't any flats. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I didn't do any damage. I'll find out tomorrow when the dealership does an alignment.
