Tie Rod Boot: Service and Repair
REMOVE1. Remove front wheel and tire assembly from the vehicle.
2. Remove nuts attaching both outer tie rod ends to the steering knuckles. Nuts are to be removed from tie rod ends using the following procedure, hold tie rod end stud with an 11/32 socket, while loosening and removing nut with wrench.
3. Remove-both tie rod ends from the steering knuckles, using Remover, Special Tool MB-991113, or equivalent.
4. Loosen the inner to outer tie rod jam nut. Remove the outer tie rod from inner tie rod.
5. Remove jam nut from inner tie rod.
6. Using pliers expand tie rod boot clamp, and remove clamp from steering gear boot.
7. Remove the inner 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.
INSTALL
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.
7. Install tie rod end seal boot heat shield on the tie rod end.
8. Install tie rod end into steering knuckle. Start tie rod end to steering knuckle attaching nut onto stud of tie rod end. While holding stud of tie rod end stationary, tighten tie rod end to steering knuckle attaching nut. Then using a crowfoot and 11/32 socket, torque tie rod end attaching nut to 61 Nm (45 ft. lbs.).
CAUTION: During this procedure do not allow the steering gear boot to become twisted.
9. Make toe adjustment by turning inner tie rod.
10. 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.