Removing Tie Rod Ends

Tools Needed

Get these tools ready before you start:
Floor jack
Jack stands
Ball joint separator
Large hammer
Open end adjustable wrench
Lug wrench

Removing the Tie Rod Ends

Raise the vehicle with the floor jack and support it on jack stands. Remove the wheels. Loosen the lock nut on the tie rod ends with the adjustable wrench and back the nut off four or five turns. Move the spindle whichever way brings the tie rod end out as far as possible to gain sufficient access to the joint. Remove the cotter pin from the tie rod end stud and then remove the castellated nut holding the tie rod to the spindle. Use the ball joint separator and place it between the tie rod end ball joint and the spindle and hammer it until it breaks the ball joint loose.

Lift the tie rod end ball joint out of the spindle. Pay attention to the direction the stud on the tie rod end is pointing and turn the tie rod end off of the inner tie rod end with the adjustable wrench. Count the number of turn it takes to remove the tie rod end. Mark it down so that the tie rod can be installed the same number of turns, or else the wheel alignment will be off, which wears out the tires.

Installing the New Tie Rod End

Install the grease fitting on the new tie rod end and tighten. Install the outer tie rod unto the inner tie rod shaft, and make sure that the stud is facing in the direction in which it will be installed. Screw it on, making sure that it is installed with the exact number of turns that it took to remove it. Place the tie rod end ball joint stud into the spindle mount and tap it with a hammer to help seat it into the tapered spindle hole. Install the nut onto the stud and tighten and install the cotter pin. Bring the large lock nut on the inner tie rod shaft forward and tighten and lock the tie rod end in place. Grease the tie rod end with a grease gun. Do the other side in the same manner. If the tie rod ends were very bad with a lot of free play, the vehicle may need to be realigned.