How to Replace an Inner Tie Rod End on a Rack & Pinion Steering

The inner tie-rod ends on your vehicle are part of the rack and pinion steering system. The inner rods help you steer the front wheels as the car is in motion or parked. However, a worn tie-rod end will cause steering play, making it unsafe for road travel.

Things You'll Need

• Lug wrench
• Floor jack
• Jack stand
• Side cut pliers
• Wrench set
• New dust boot and clamps
• Dust boot clamp installer
• New tie-rod end

Instructions

Remove the Inner Tie-Rod End

1. Loosen the wheel/tire lugs with a lug wrench on the side of the car with the bad inner tie-rod end.

2. Raise the front tire using a floor jack and support the vehicle on a jack stand.

3. Remove the wheel lugs and the tire.

4. Take the dust rubber boot off the inner tie-rod end located between the rod and the rack and pinion assembly. Use a pair of side cut pliers to cut the straps at both ends of the dust boot.

5. Slide the dust boot off the rack and pinion assembly.

6. Disconnect the inner tie-rod end at the rack and pinion using two wrenches. Use a backup wrench to hold the rack and pinion steady as you unscrew the mounting nut off the tie-rod end. Make a note of the flat and lock washers installation order and location so you re-install them in their original place.

7. Slide the dust boot off the tie rod and unscrew the other end of the tie-rod end from its connector.

Install the New Inner Tie-Rod End

1. Screw the new inner tie-rod end into the tie-rod end connector.

2. Slide a new dust boot and clamps over the new inner tie-rod end with the wider opening pointing toward the rack and pinion.

3. Start the mounting nut by hand at the other end of the inner tie-rod end and rack and pinion, making sure the flat and lock washers are in the correct order and location.

4. Tighten the mounting nut with the wrench by holding the rack and pinion end steady with a backup wrench.

5. Slide the new dust boot over the rack and pinion and make sure the boot end groove is positioned properly over the rack and pinion clamp groove.

6. Tighten the dust boot clamps using a dust boot clamp installer.

7. Mount the tire over the wheel/hub assembly and install the wheel lugs.

8. Lower the vehicle and finish tightening the wheel lugs.

Resources

• Inner tie-rod end.