s13 tie rod replacement (using s14 tie rods)

[RidgeRacer]

OK - so I have a '92 s13 Hatchback and am getting ready to replace the inner and outer tie rod ends. Hopefully, I understood correctly that you can use tie rod ends made for a s14 (as long as you replace both the inners and outers). I'm not trying to drift or anything, so I bought a set of Moog inners and outers (part #s EV347 and ES3438).

Assuming I haven't already screwed up buying those s14 ends, I am wondering if I'm going to absolutely need to buy some new boots. If so - will I need to go with s14 boots too? I keep seeing that the driver's and passenger side boots for s14 are different part #s and sizes, whereas the ones for s13 seem to be the same size. Is there a better source for whichever boots wind up being the right ones than Nissan? I hate to pay $80 for 2 boots if I don't need to.

Sorry, that was long-winded. Thanks for any help!

[IanS]

The S13 boots should work just fine as long as they are not ripped.

[RidgeRacer]

Update: OK - so I swapped out the new inners and outers today. As it turned out, the driver's side boot has a larger diameter where it attaches to the rack than the passenger side. Not too hard of a job, but I am a little bit concerned about one thing.

Removing both inners involved hammering and chiseling up 4 staked flap things so that I could get a wrench on them. That part was no big deal, but when it came time to pound those flaps back down, zero success. I got one of them half-way back in place by squeezing it back down with some vise-grips, but the other one got stuck at a weird angle and I couldn't line it up with the flats on the new inner rod, so it's just sitting there with the flaps up.

I put thread-locker on both rods before re-installing them in the rack, hoping that those flap things are just to keep the rod from loosening. Is that going to be ok, or am I going to need to do something about those flaps?

Thanks!

[Spaz882]

what is the diff. between the S13 and S14 tie rods?

I'll be putting my steering rack back together this week and I'm going to replace the tie rods. I build a Manual Steering Rack (Hoping it works good)

[RidgeRacer]

From what I read, the s14 rods are supposed to be a little beefier (larger diameter). But if you're going to use those, replace both the inners and outers because the s13 outers won't thread onto s14 inners. That's just from what I read - so don't take that as gospel.

[Spaz882]

Ok, I take a look at that then. Thanks for the info

[IanS]

Update: OK - so I swapped out the new inners and outers today. As it turned out, the driver's side boot has a larger diameter where it attaches to the rack than the passenger side. Not too hard of a job, but I am a little bit concerned about one thing.

Removing both inners involved hammering and chiseling up 4 staked flap things so that I could get a wrench on them. That part was no big deal, but when it came time to pound those flaps back down, zero success. I got one of them half-way back in place by squeezing it back down with some vise-grips, but the other one got stuck at a weird angle and I couldn't line it up with the flats on the new inner rod, so it's just sitting there with the flaps up.

I put thread-locker on both rods before re-installing them in the rack, hoping that those flap things are just to keep the rod from loosening. Is that going to be ok, or am I going to need to do something about those flaps?


Thanks!

They are just retainers. As long as you put thread locker on there, and cranked them on good, you'll be fine.

[RidgeRacer]

They are just retainers. As long as you put thread locker on there, and cranked them on good, you'll be fine.

OK cool - Thanks man!

[OutToWinPAHC]

They are just retainers. As long as you put thread locker on there, and cranked them on good, you'll be fine.[/quote]

Same for me, some cars there is no way of beveling the washer over. Red locktite, lots of it and let it dry