ok...go easy on me cause im not the best mechanic or anything...so heres my problem...when it hit bumps my front end sounds really loose so i thought it was probably the tie rods...i had a friend of my check it out one day and he told me i need the whole tie rod assembly?(i think thats what he said its been a while) he said i needed inner and outer plus the boots...so my question is...is that all i need for a "tie rod assembly"? what else would i need? and where can i get em?
thanks for any info
tie rod ?s
Re: tie rod ?s (wgfinest3)
That is correct. The tie rod assembly is the inner plus the outter. Changing the boot is a good idea since it will be off anyway. You can pick them up at any autoparts store, Pepboys, Autozone, Advanced, where ever.
If you plan on doing it yourself:
Raise the front end and support with jackstands.Remove the wheelMEASURE, with a tape measure, the distance it is from one outer tie rod end to the other, and WRITE THIS DOWN (it will help later when you put it all back together, your alignment wont be out so far you cant drive it)remove the cotter pin and castle nut on the outer tie rod to steering knuckle. To remove the outer tie rod end from the steering knuckle, use a hammer and bang on the STEERING KNUCKLE ONLY, NOT on the tie rod end (although i guess it wont matter if you damage the threads, you arent reusing it).remove the steering rack boot (untie the wire or clip the zip tie)as you look at the inner tie rod end, notice how it attaches to the rack. There is a washer between the tie rod end and the rack and one corner is probably bent against the rack, This is like a lock washer. You will need to unbend it (a good pair of long handled pliers works great) then undo the inner tie rod end (24mm wrench if i remember correctly).Remove the tie rod as an assembly (inner + outer) and us it to approximate the length of the new assembly (you will likely have to screw the outer onto the inner, so use the old one as a guide). Dont forget to install the new rack boot.With the crush washer in place, thread the new inner onto the rack. Once tight, hammer the corner of the washer down like before to lock it into place.Put everything back together. Measure the new distance from tie rod end to end, and compare to the before measurement. Turn the inner until it gets close(r). Remember, even if you think youve got it exact, its much better to go get an alignment than to wear out your tires because your toe in was 30 instead of 15.Go get an alignment.
If you plan on doing it yourself:
Raise the front end and support with jackstands.Remove the wheelMEASURE, with a tape measure, the distance it is from one outer tie rod end to the other, and WRITE THIS DOWN (it will help later when you put it all back together, your alignment wont be out so far you cant drive it)remove the cotter pin and castle nut on the outer tie rod to steering knuckle. To remove the outer tie rod end from the steering knuckle, use a hammer and bang on the STEERING KNUCKLE ONLY, NOT on the tie rod end (although i guess it wont matter if you damage the threads, you arent reusing it).remove the steering rack boot (untie the wire or clip the zip tie)as you look at the inner tie rod end, notice how it attaches to the rack. There is a washer between the tie rod end and the rack and one corner is probably bent against the rack, This is like a lock washer. You will need to unbend it (a good pair of long handled pliers works great) then undo the inner tie rod end (24mm wrench if i remember correctly).Remove the tie rod as an assembly (inner + outer) and us it to approximate the length of the new assembly (you will likely have to screw the outer onto the inner, so use the old one as a guide). Dont forget to install the new rack boot.With the crush washer in place, thread the new inner onto the rack. Once tight, hammer the corner of the washer down like before to lock it into place.Put everything back together. Measure the new distance from tie rod end to end, and compare to the before measurement. Turn the inner until it gets close(r). Remember, even if you think youve got it exact, its much better to go get an alignment than to wear out your tires because your toe in was 30 instead of 15.Go get an alignment.
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midwestnissans
- Posts: 19
- Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 1:14 pm
- Car: 1990 Nissan 240sx Fastback
Re: (midwestnissans)
i used the tein too and i like them, but when i replaced my tie rods, i also put on new control arms b/c my ball joints were bad on them too.