Let's start off with my day, today. I changed out one lower ball joint on driver side, while putting back together the abs sensor broke off in the hub then I broke the shaft putting the hub nut on. Pissed off by now. So I ordered a new cv axle, fun right. Then I noticed the tie rod end is loose as hell at the joint. The truck has 110,000 miles never been replaced. So I would like to replace the inner and outer tie rods since its apart. My questions would be, how hard is it, any tips or tricks, or just do the outers?



Please tell me someone can help?????

 

Help. I'm doing it today.

 

Inners are pretty easy. I work for a steering company so I deal with these parts all day long.


Be sure to buy a set of bellows (the boots on the steering gear), and a set of clamps for each end of the bellows. I don't recommend reusing them (while you could, why not do the job right..).

You'll want to have the front end up in the air so you can steer both ways freely.

Remove the tires and outer tie rods (OTRs). Use side cutters to remove the clamps from the large end of the bellows. The small end is likely held on by a "spring" clamp that is easy to remove. At this point you can slide the bellow off.

Now the tricky part... You'll want to have someone to help with this.

On the driver's side, there are teeth on the rack of the steering gear that the pinion meshes with. You may need to steer so the rack moves outward on the drivers side.

Use a large cresent wrench to hold the rack (hold at the teeth - this flat portion allows you to hold with a wrench) while you loosen the inner tie rods. Holoing the rack steady ensures you aren't torquing the crap out of the rack while detorquing the ITRs.

Hold the rack, while you slowly and steadily loosens the tierods. You'll likely be able to do the drivers side alone, but a helper will be needed to do the passenger side ITR while you hold the driver's side of the rack.

Once they're broken free, remove them, and install new ones in the same fashion (hold the rack steady). I don't know ITR torque values off hand, but tighten them good!

Now apply some grease to the large and small end of your new bellows (just where the large end touches the steering gear housing, and where the small end mates with the ITR). Reclamp, and install OTRs.

Go get an alignment and enjoy the satisfaction of changing a suspension part most people are scared to touch!


Other notes: clean the area around the large end of the bellow to avoid getting an debris in the grease on the rack. Obviously that's be bad news.
Do not over steer the rack with the ITRs removed. There is nothing stopping you from shooting the rack out of the gear housing lol.

 

Thank you for the expert advise. Are you serious about the steering falling out. What if I put the inner back on without moving the steering wheel? I ordered the moog inner and outer, looks like the inner attaches straight in with a ball joint socket. Also is it easy to see where to hold the teeth on the rack?

 

He's referring to the steering rack shooting out if you turn the wheel with everything disassembled.

 

I got it all done and it was no sweat, thanks to you. I even rented the tool for the inner tie rods, but it didn't have big enough "C" clip in it. Then putting the last lug on it broke the stud at 90ft/lbs. I'm so pissed I can't sleep.

 

Sounds like my luck. What tool are you referring to? Do you have a picture? I'm just curious.

 

Looks like a giant mag lite, about 18" long.

 

what does it do...? I assume its just a wrench..?

 

It slides over the inner tie rod, after removing the outer, then grabs the inner rod at the ball socket to turn it. You don't need it though. Use a crescent wrench and a pipe wrench. Have a buddy there just to hold the rack teeth on driver side while you do passenger side. It is cake.