Tie Rod: Service and Repair

Tie Rod - Inner









Removal









NOTICE: The steering gear bellows boots and clamps are designed to produce an airtight seal and protect the internal components of the steering gear. If the seal is not airtight, the vacuum generated during turning will draw water and contamination into the gear, causing damage. Zip ties do not provide an airtight seal and must not be used.

NOTICE: The inner tie-rod ball joint grease is not compatible with water. Water trapped in the grease will damage the joint.

NOTE: If the RH inner tie rod is being serviced, remove the LH outer tie-rod end and bellows boot to access and hold the steering gear rack when loosening and tightening the inner tie rod. An assistant will be needed to hold the steering gear rack on the LH side when servicing the RH inner tie rod.

1. Remove the wheel and tire.

2. Loosen the tie-rod jam nut.

3. Remove and discard the outer tie rod nut.

4. NOTICE: Do not use a hammer to separate the outer tie-rod end from the wheel knuckle or damage to the wheel knuckle can result.

Use the Tie-Rod End Remover to separate the outer tie-rod end from the wheel knuckle.






5. NOTE: Count and record the number of turns required to remove the outer tie-rod end for reference during installation.
Remove the outer tie-rod end.


6. Remove the tie-rod jam nut.

7. Remove and discard the inner bellows boot clamp.

8. Remove and discard the steering gear bellows boot.

9. NOTICE: Use an appropriate-sized wrench on the flat of the rack gear to resist rotation and to prevent damage during the removal of the inner tie rod.

NOTE: An assistant will be needed to hold the steering gear rack on the LH side when servicing the RH inner tie rod.

NOTE: Set screw style inner tie rod tool shown.
While holding the steering gear rack, use a set screw style inner tie rod tool (such as Matco(R) stock # TRT48) to remove the inner tie rod.






Installation

1. NOTICE: Thoroughly remove any abrasive material. This material is extremely harmful to the steering gear.

Thoroughly clean the bellows boot-to-steering gear housing mating surface and install the O-ring supplied with the new bellows boot.


2. NOTICE: Use an appropriate-sized wrench on the flat of the rack gear to resist rotation and to prevent damage during the installation of the inner tie rod.

While holding the steering gear rack, use a set screw style inner tie rod tool (such as Matco(R) stock # TRT48) to install the inner tie rod.
- Tighten to 83 Nm (61 lb-ft).






3. Apply the specified grease to the bellows boot-to-steering gear mating surfaces and bellows boot grooves in the inner tie-rod casting.

4. NOTE: Make sure the bellows boot is positioned correctly over the steering gear housing bead and the groove in the inner tie rod.
Install the steering gear bellows boot.


5. Using bellows boot clamp pliers, install a new inner bellows boot clamp.

6. Install the tie-rod jam nut onto the inner tie rod.

7. NOTE: Install the outer tie rod end(s) the same number of turns recorded during removal.
Install the outer tie-rod end.


8. Connect the outer tie-rod end to the wheel knuckle and install the outer tie-rod end nut.
- Tighten to 53 Nm (39 lb-ft).


9. Tighten the tie-rod jam nut to 63 Nm (46 lb-ft).

10. Install the wheel and tire.

11. Check and if necessary, adjust the front toe.