Tie Rod End: Service and Repair

TIE ROD OUTER

REMOVAL
1. Raise vehicle.
2. Remove wheel and tire assembly.





3. Loosen inner tie rod-to-outer tie rod jam nut (Fig. 17).





4. Remove nut attaching outer tie rod to steering knuckle (Fig. 18). Nut is removed from tie rod by holding tie rod stud with a socket while loosening and removing nut with wrench.
5. Remove tie rod stud from steering knuckle using Remover, Special Tool C-3894-A.
6. Remove outer tie rod from inner tie rod by unthreading it.

INSTALLATION
1. Thread outer tie rod onto inner tie rod. Make sure jam nut is on inner tie rod before installing outer tie rod. Do not tighten jam nut at this time.
2. Install tie rod end seal boot heat shield on the tie rod end (Fig. 18).





3. Install outer tie rod into steering knuckle. Start tie rod-to-steering knuckle attaching nut onto tie rod stud. While holding tie rod stud stationary using a socket, use a crowfoot on a torque wrench to tighten tie rod nut to 61 Nm (45 ft. lbs.) torque (Fig. 19).

CAUTION: During the following step, do not allow the steering gear boot to become twisted.

4. Tighten tie rod jam nut (Fig. 17) to 75 Nm (55 ft. lbs.) torque.
5. Install tire and wheel assembly. Progressively tighten the wheel nuts in a cries-cross tightening sequence to 135 Nm (100 ft. lbs.) torque.
6. Lower vehicle.
7. Adjust front wheel alignment toe setting.