Tie Rods Installation Guide

How To Replace Inner And Outer Tie Rods

Tie rods are part of the steering system that controls the movement of the front wheels. These components allow the driver to move the front wheels in the required direction and carry out a turn. Although fairly simple in construction and design, the tie rods serve a crucial vehicle function. The tie rods do not just help you steer your car, but also contribute to the suspension performance and greatly influence the wheel alignment. Read more about what tie rods are and a guide to buying them. This guide focuses on the symptoms that failing tie rod showcase and how you can diagnose and replace the tie rods yourself.

The Symptoms Of Tie Rod Failure

The most vulnerable section of the tie rods is the ball joints which start to show symptoms of failure once they are worn out or damaged. It is important to take action if you notice these signs or you can risk losing control of the vehicle.

VehicleOutOfAlignment

The tie rods dictate the alignment of the wheels and so a worn-out or damaged tie rod will disrupt the wheel alignment. While an out-of-alignment vehicle is not directly noticeable you will notice other issues like the vehicle tends to pull to one side as you drive or excessive and uneven tire wear.

Uneven TireWear

The most common sign of a vehicle that has lost alignment is uneven or excessive tire wear. The alignment of the wheels determines the contact patch of the tire with the ground. If the alignment is off due to any factor, the tire rests at an unusual angle with the ground surface and

so starts to wear unevenly. Looking at the tire, you can notice one side of the tire tread has worn out more than the other.

Unusual Sounds FromFront End

The tie rods consist of ball joints that are prone to failure. These joints can wear out over time or due to an introduction of debris and contaminants, resulting in a clunking noise when operated. This happens due to excessive play in the ball joint creating clunking or squealing noises.

Unusual SteeringFeel

The tie rods connect both wheels to the steering wheels and any play with the tie rod is felt through the steering wheels. Excessive play in the sterling wheels or unresponsive steering feedback can be an indication that the tie rods have failed. This is usually accompanied by a clunking or shaky steering wheel or may be felt as vibrations when driving or turning the wheels.

Tie Rod Failure

The absolute worst sign of tie rod failure is if the rod breaks during vehicle movement. This can happen if the above signs are ignored for too long. A broken tie rod severs the connection between the steering wheels and the tires which results in complete loss of vehicle control and

poses a serious safety concern. Always inspect the steering system and tie rods regularly to avoid such risky situations.

How To Check If The Tie Rods Are Gone Bad?

If you notice any of the above signs then assessing the condition of the tie rods is essential. Luckily, it’s easy to find a tie rod that is past its prime. The first step is to jack up the vehicle safely using appropriate lifting equipment.

Once the front end of the car is fully jacked up, wiggle each front wheel by placing your hand at 3 and 9 o’clock and check for play in the movement. If the wheel moves excessively then there is likely to be an issue with the tie rods. You may also hear squealing or clunking noise as you move the wheel indicating a worn ball joint

A play warrants further inspection and since you already have the car jacked up, you can remove the wheels to directly inspect the tie rods. Inspect the tie rod end and check the boot for tears or fissures. A torn boot will allow contaminants to seep into the ball joint inducing excess wear of the ball. You may also notice gritty grease inside the ball joint which is a sign that debris has accumulated inside the joint and worn it out.

To further assess the rods, remove the tie rod end from the knuckle and try to move the ball joint stud. If it remains firm then the tie rod end is fine but if you can move it easily then the joint is bust and requires replacement. Now to test the inner tie rod you need to hold the rod and move it around. The inner tie rod also has a ball joint at the connecting end of the steering rack. This ball joint can get worn and becomes very easy to rotate and handle which indicates signs of wear. Normally, it is hard to move the rod and should not move or should show very little movement, but If it feels loose in the joint, then it needs replacement.

How To Replace Inner And Outer Tie Rods?

Unlike other components where you simply replace it with new, tie rod replacement requires a bit of extra attention. This is mainly because tie rods are crucial steering and suspension components that directly influence wheel alignment. If you were to change out the tie rods without precautions, you could severely alter the wheel alignment putting you at risk while driving.

So to minimize the chances of severely upsetting the alignment, the new tie rod end that is installed must be the same in length as the old one to keep the angles similar to the original spec. When removing the old tie rod end, mark the position of the adjusting sleeve jam nut with a marker. Loosen the nut slightly and remove the tie rod end from the inner tie rod. When removing the tie rod end, count every rotation of the thread until the tie rod is released. This way when you are reinstalling the new one, you can thread it to that count to minimize wheel alignment offset.

If you are replacing both the inner and outer tie rods, you can insert the tie rod until the marked location. Now compare it to the new inner and outer tie rods and mark the position. This will help you align the new tie rod similar to the original. These are precautionary measures to keep the alignment as close to spec as possible until you can have the wheel alignment done and is in no way a substitute for the actual alignment process.

Having these key points in mind you can begin to dismantle and install new tie rods. You will need these tools for installing inner and outer tie rods:

Here AreTheStepsForReplacingTheTieRod End

• Safely jack the front of the car up using jack stands and floor jacks.

• Remove the wheels from the hub and turn the steering wheel to gain more room for working on the tie rods.

• The tie rod can be easily recognized by the castle nut. Remove the cotter pin within the nut to allow the loosening of the nut. You may have to use a breaker bar to get enough leverage to undo the nut.

• To remove the tie rod ball joint from the steering knuckle, reinsert the nut backward until it sits flush with the stud. Now tap using a rubber mallet to free it from the knuckle.

• Once the tie rod is removed, follow the precautions mentioned above. Make sure to count the thread’s rotations as you undo the rod end from the inner tie rod. Also, mark the location of the tie rod adjusting sleeve using a marker.

• If the inner tie rod is in good shape then you can reinstall the outer tie rod directly. Start by threading the new tie rod end to the noted count and ensure it reaches the marked position. Lock the tie rod in place by tightening the jam nut.

• Follow the rest of the procedure in reverse order of installation. Make sure to torque the castle nut to specification and insert the cotter pin into the nut. The torque specifications are mentioned in the owner’s manual.

Here AreTheStepsForReplacingTheInnerTie Rod

• After removing the outer tie rod, you have clear access to the inner tie rod. First, remove the boot by undoing the clamp bolts or snapping them depending on the type in your car.

• The inner tie rod is secured in place by a ball joint that threads into the steering rack end. The other end of the tie rod rotates freely due to the ball joint. So in order to remove the inner tie rod, you will need to reach a wrench onto the ball joint socket and undo it. This can be quite tricky since there is little room to access the joint and getting a wrench in there can be hard. A special inner tie rod removal tool is used to ease the removal process. You can borrow this tool at your local garage or loan it from a friend.

• Using the tool you can remove the inner tie rod ball joint which frees the assembly.

• Now line up the new and old inner tie rods and copy the marking for the outer tie rod. This will help ensure the tie rod length is as close to the factory as possible.

• Insert the new inner tie rod using the same tool and torque it to specification. Reinstall the boot if it is not torn and is in good condition. If your original clamp is broken you can get a replacement or alternatively use cable ties. Followed by the reinstallation of the tie rod end.

Car How toRemoveTheTie Rod

Ford F150 (1997-2003)

Ford F150 (2004-2008)

Ford F150 (2009 to 2014)

Use a 27mm or an adjustable wrench to loosen the jam nut and a 21mm socket to loosen the castle nut that secures the outer tie rod.

Use an adjustable wrench to loosen the jam nut and a 22mm socket to remove the castle nut that secures the outer tie rod.

Use a 24mm open-end wrench to loosen the jam nut and a 21mm socket to loosen the castle nut that secures the outer tie rod.

Dodge Ram 1500 (1994 to 2002)

Use an 18mm socket to remove the nut holding the steering stabilizer. Now use a 21mm socket to remove the castle nut on the right outer tie rod end and the same socket to remove the nut on the right-hand connecting rod. Use a 21mm socket to remove the castle nut on the inner tie rod end attached to the pitman arm and the left-hand outer tie rod end.

Dodge Ram 1500 (2006 to 2014)

You will need a 24mm open-end wrench to loosen the jam nut. Use a 21mm socket to loosen the castle nut that holds the outer tie rod end in place.

Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (1999 to 2006)

Use an adjustable wrench to loosen the jam nut and an 18mm socket to remove the castle nut that secures the outer tie rod.

Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (2007 to 2010)

Use a 24mm wrench to loosen the jam nut. Now you will need a 21mm socket and wrench to loosen the castle nut that holds the outer tie rod to the steering knuckle.

Honda Civic (2003 to 2005)

Honda Civic (2006 to 2011)

Toyota Corolla (1995 to 1999)

Toyota Corolla (2003 to 2008)

Volkswagen Jetta (1999 to 2005)

Volkswagen Jetta (2006 to 2010)

Use a 21mm wrench to loosen the tie rod adjusting nut or jam nut. Remove the cotter pin and use a 17mm socket to remove the castle nut that secures the outer tie rod to the knuckle.

Use a 24mm wrench to loosen the tie rod adjusting nut or jam nut. Use a 19mm socket to remove the castle nut that secures the outer tie rod to the knuckle.

Loosen the locking nut or the jam nut using a 21mm open-end wrench and use a 17mm wrench to loosen the tie rod castle nut.

Hyundai Elantra (2007 to 2010)

A 19mm wrench is required to loosen the tie rod jam nut. Then use an 18mm socket to remove the castle nut that secures the outer tie rod to the steering knuckle.

Take a 22mm wrench to loosen the locking nut. Use a 6mm Allen bit to hold the outer tie rod stud and use a 19mm wrench to open the castle nut.

Use a 24mm wrench to loosen the adjusting nut or jam nut. Use an 18mm socket to remove the castle nut that secures the outer tie rod to the steering knuckle.

Use a 24mm wrench to loosen the tie rod adjusting nut. Now, use a 17mm socket to remove the castle nut that secures the outer tie rod to the spindle. If the castle nut on the tie rod end is tough to reach, you can also use a 14mm socket to remove the two caliper bolts. Remove the brake caliper to gain better access.

Mazda 3 Series (2004 to

Use a 24mm socket to loosen the adjusting nut. Now take a 14mm socket and wrench to remove the castle nut that holds the outer tie rod end to the steering knuckle.

2014)

GMC Sierra (2001 to 2010)

Use a 24mm wrench to loosen the jam nut. Now you will need a 21mm socket and wrench to loosen the castle nut that holds the outer tie rod to the steering knuckle.

Jeep Truck Wrangler (2007 to 2018)Outer Tie Rod

Remove the plastic tabs that hold the engine splash shield to access the tie rods. Now locate the left front outer tie rod that connects to the knuckle on one end and to the tie rod sleeve on the other. This sleeve runs across the front of the vehicle to the other wheel. It has a steering stabilizer mounted to it, which has to be removed. Use an 18 mm socket to undo the bolt that holds the steering stabilizer to the tie rod sleeve. The tie rod sleeve at the other end is connected to the right front tie rod. This tie rod is connected to the knuckle and has to be removed using a 21mm socket and wrench. Once the right tie rod is removed from the knuckle, rotate it to remove it from the sleeve completely. Repeat the process on the left side to remove the left tie rod end. If you are changing the tie rod sleeve, mark the threads on the tie rods to ensure the wheel alignment stays intact. If you are replacing both the outer tie rods, get your wheels aligned after installation is complete.

Jeep Truck Wrangler (2007 to 2018)Inner Tie Rod

Removing the inner tie rod is almost the same for all vehicles. However, if you own a Jeep Truck Wrangler, you will see two nuts and bolts that hold the inner tie rods and the drag link in a sleeve. Use a 15mm socket and wrench to loosen both bolts of the sleeve. Now use a locking plier to undo the sleeve and rotate it until the tie rod and drag link are disconnected. Use a 21mm socket to remove the castle nut that holds the inner tie rod to the pitman's arm. After replacing the inner tie rod, reattach the sleeve and tighten the bolts using a torque wrench to recommended values.

Once you carry out the replacement process, rush to your preferred garage and have the wheels aligned asap. Once the tie rods are replaced it becomes critical to carry our wheel alignment. The tie rods control the toe-in/toe-out of the vehicle and limit the camber angle as well. An out-of-sync tie rod will cause the wheel to sit at an unfavorable angle with the road surface and cause tires to wear unevenly. It will also induce undue stresses on various

suspension system components while also harming the ball joints on the tie rod end. Have your vehicle aligned after a tie rod replacement to ensure it is working optimally. Once you have installed the new tie rods make sure to follow a few simple maintenance procedures to extend the tie rod service life as mentioned in this guide.

FAQs

Q)ShouldBothInnerAnd OuterTieRods BeReplacedTogether?

Outer tie rods ends usually give out much earlier than inner tie rods due to the stresses that they bear. It is possible to replace only the outer tie rod if the inner tie rod is still in good condition. However, if the inner tie rod is showing signs of failure then it is best to replace the assembly.

Q)ShouldTieRod Ends Be ReplacedOn BothSidesAtTheSameTime?

While it is not necessary to replace tie rod ends on both wheels, it is recommended. When one side tie rod end fails, then the other rod is likely on its final legs. Since both side tie rods wear out almost equally, it is best to replace both at the same time. Also, it may be more economical this way especially if you are going to have it done by a professional - to save labour costs.

Q)HowLong DoesItTakeToInstallTieRods?

Outer tie rods or tie rods ends are relatively easy to remove and install. They only have one nut holding it which is easy to reach and makes the replacement process simple and straightforward. It might take you 30 mins to replace one tie rod end. Whereas, inner tie rods are a little harder to reach which makes the removal and reinstatement more tedious and therefore time-consuming. It will take you an hour or so to replace a single inner tie rod.