Tie-rod ends — removal and installation
Removal
1. Loosen the wheel lug nuts. Apply the parking brake, raise the front of the vehicle and support it securely on jack stands. Remove the front wheel.
2. Hold the tie-rod with a pair of locking pliers or a wrench and loosen the jam nut enough to mark the position of the tie-rod end in relation to the threads (see illustrations).
i. 2a Loosen the jam nut…
i.2b … then mark the position of the tie-rod end in relation to the threads
3. Remove the cotter pin from the tie-rod castle nut (see illustration). Loosen the nut a few turns, but don’t remove it yet.
i. 3 Straighten the cotter pin out, then pull the cotter pin out of the castle nut
4. Disconnect the tie-rod end from the steering knuckle arm with a puller (see illustration), then remove the castle nut.
i. 4 Disconnect the tie-rod end from the steering knuckle arm with a puller or ball joint separator
5. Unscrew the tie-rod end from the tie-rod.
Note: As an extra insurance when reinstalling the tie rod, count the number of turns you make as you remove the old tie-rod end. Record this number and install the new tie rod using the same number of turns.
Installation
6. Thread the tie-rod end on to the marked position and insert the tie-rod stud into the steering knuckle arm. Tighten the jam nut securely.
7. Install the castle nut on the stud and tighten it to the torque listed in this Chapter’s Specifications. Install a new cotter pin. If the hole for the cotter pin doesn’t line up with one of the slots in the nut, tighten the nut an additional amount until it does.
8. Install the wheel and lug nuts. Lower the vehicle and tighten the lug nuts to the torque listed in the Tune-up and routine maintenance Specifications.
9. Have the alignment checked and, if necessary, adjusted.