DIY: Tie Rod and Steering Rack Removal

[Dongoesby]

This guide is provided for those who lowered their cars and wish to change their tie rods, or those who wish to change their steering rack to the hicas version or the other way around.

A lot of information is found at SPLparts at:http://splparts.com/doc/SPLTieRodEnd/default.htm

This is a fairly easy job and relatively easy if you have any mechanical job background. I've done this with the engine is out, but I believe that it does not make the job any harder with the engine in the car. Here it goes:

Basic tools are all you need (PB blaster or liquid wrench helps a lot!)A large WrenchA small hammerA flat head screw driverA braker bar17 mm socket10 mm socker14 mm wrenchA socket wrench extentionCouple clippers

First SAFELY position your car on floor jacks!!

This is how the steering rack looks like when it is attached to the tie rods and power steering column.

First remove wire holding the boot by hand or any hand tools you prefer. Do it gently so you could reuse them. Pull back the steering rack boot.

If you wish to change the tie rods, follow the instructions below, otherwise, skip it.

Remove the safety pin and nut from the outer tie rod ends, and pull it off the spindle.

You can simply tap it off with a soft hammer or, if you are a picky person, you could use a joint popper. I used a hammer and tapped it off.

If you do not wish to change the tie rods, you do not need to do anything on the outer tie rod. However, you need to loosen the nut on the outer tie rod to free the inner tie rod movement.

Turn this nut clock-wise to loosen it.

When the boot is pulled back, pry back the 4 locking tabs on the inner tie rod. You could use a flat head screw driver and a hammer, tap on the back to pry it out carefully. For installation, you could use a new locking plate or reuse these by gently hammer it back on. I simply threw mine away because I used SPL tie rods with washers. To remove the inner tie rod, use a large wrench, hold the inner tie rod on the squared sides, and loosen (counter-clockwise) and remove.

TIPS: With a large wrench, I basically use my feet stepping on the front lower arm and pull the sucker to turn. It could be hard at first to turn, but you got to man it up and pull.

It is off.

Do the same to the other side. Remember to turn it counter-clock-wise. For this one, I stepped on the fender well and pull.

Now, the easy part, remove the four bolts holding the two clamps. I believe S13 has a different design, but it is similar. The mounting points are located at the opposite side of what is shown in this picture.

Here is how the bolt looks like from a bottom veiw. You should use a 17mm socket, a braker bar, some muscles and some BP blaster. Use a socket wrench extention for two of the four bolts.

Now, this is a 10mm bolt that you need to remove in order to pull the steering column out.

And it is off. Lastly, there are two hoses connected to the rack from the Power Steering Pump and Reservior. You need to be really CAREFUL on this one, because these are easy to strip.

One of the two hoses has a 14mm nut, spry some BP blaster, use a 14mm wrench and gently tab it off with a small hammer. The other one has a larger size nut, I think it is 19mm, you could use a large wrench, but since I don't need the hose anymore I removed it by cutting the hose off instead.

And the rack is out!

I tapped the last hose nut off with these. Remember to spry some BP blaster and do it GENTLY!

The installation would be a reverse procedure, but remember to use a FSM for torque spec and align the steering rack teeth to the steering column.

The following is way to determine if your rack is a regular or HICAS version.

Turn this steering column mounting point, you should be able to adjust the length of the steering rack shaft exposure.

First adjust the rack shaft to match the steering rack housing like shown in the picture.

For every full circle turn, you should get a measurement of 1 - 3/4" for a regular steering rack. A HICAS version rack should get you a little bit more than 2" for every full circle turn. Same goes to both direction.

Enjoy.
Modified by Dongoesby at 12:50 AM 5/24/2009

[vancouverbc]

Looking good:) What year is this for?

Here are some existing steering related tutorials in directory:

1990 steering rack replacementSteering-rack bushing replacementSteering-Tie rod removalSteering-tie rodSteering-tie rod/rack angle