Tie Rod Boot: Service and Repair

NOTE: The replacement of the inner tie rod to steering gear boot must be performed with the steering gear removed from the vehicle.

REMOVAL
1. Raise vehicle on jack stands or centered on a frame contact type hoist.
2. Remove the front wheels and tires from the vehicle.
3. Remove the steering gear from the vehicle.
4. Securely mount the steering gear in a vise or other appropriate holding fixture.

Fig. 29:

5. Loosen the inner to outer tie rod jam nut. Remove the outer tie rod from inner tie rod.
6. Remove jam nut from inner tie rod.





7. Using pliers expand tie rod boot clamp, and remove from tie rod boot.





8. Remove the tie rod boot to steering gear clamp.

NOTE: After removing inner boot clamps. Use a very small screwdriver to lift boot from its retaining groove in steering gear. Then the boot can be removed from steering gear.

INSTALLATION
1. Install tie rod boot to steering gear clamp on tie rod boot. Then install tie rod boot on inner tie rod.





2. Crimp inner tie rod boot to steering gear clamp on tie rod boot using Crimper, Special Tool, C4975-A, or equivalent. When installing clamp, Special Tool C4975-A, or equivalent must have bottom bolt tightened until their is no gap between the 2 bars of the tool.
3. Lubricate inner tie rod boot groove with silicone type lubricant, then install tie rod boot to inner tie rod clamp. (Clamp will have to be loosened for toe adjustment.)
4. Install inner to outer tie rod jam nut on inner tie rod.
5. Install outer tie rod on inner tie rod. Do not tighten jam nut.
6. Install steering gear assembly back in the vehicle.

CAUTION: During this procedure do not allow the steering gear boot to become twisted.

7. Make toe adjustment by turning inner tie rod.
8. Tighten the inner to outer tie rod jam nut to 75 Nm (55 ft. lbs.) torque. Lubricate tie rod boot groove with silicone type lubricant, before installing outer boot clamp, making sure boot is not twisted.