tie rod ??
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: otsego,MN
tie rod ??
My wife's 2000 explorer is clunking from the drivers front end. I got under there and did some poking around. The outer tie rod looks good,but it appears to be what it screws into,normaly called an inner tie rod. It looks like it comes out of the rack and pinion, then there is a boot, then goes on down to the outer tie rod. Well it is loose inside that boot and is making my clunking noise. My haynes manual doesn't even show this part. Does anyone know if in fact that is an inner tie rod and how hard is it to replace? Any info would be great.
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 871
Likes: 0
Very easy... especially on these being the rack is in front.. plenty of room to access..
Loosen the tie rod jamb-nut. Remove the outer tie rod nut (at the knuckle). Separate the tie rod from the knuckle...
Thread the outer tie rod from the inner... COUNT THE NUMBER of threads (turns)it take to remove it and write it down.
Remove jamb nut... remove the boot clamps and slide the boot off.
Loosen and remove the inner tie rod.
Installation is the reverse, making sure to use threadlocker on the inner threads (at the rack... NOT at the outer tie rod), and make sure you install the outer tie rod end the same amount of turns it took to remove it... this should keep your alignment close enough to get you to an alignment shop.
Also you'll probably have to break one of the boot clamps.. you can use a hose clamp in it's place.. just make sure you thread it between the vent tube and the rack housing.
It's a pretty cut-and-dry operation. Good luck!
Also don't forget to tighten the jamb nut.. and don't forget to have the alignment done afterwards!
Loosen the tie rod jamb-nut. Remove the outer tie rod nut (at the knuckle). Separate the tie rod from the knuckle...
Thread the outer tie rod from the inner... COUNT THE NUMBER of threads (turns)it take to remove it and write it down.
Remove jamb nut... remove the boot clamps and slide the boot off.
Loosen and remove the inner tie rod.
Installation is the reverse, making sure to use threadlocker on the inner threads (at the rack... NOT at the outer tie rod), and make sure you install the outer tie rod end the same amount of turns it took to remove it... this should keep your alignment close enough to get you to an alignment shop.
Also you'll probably have to break one of the boot clamps.. you can use a hose clamp in it's place.. just make sure you thread it between the vent tube and the rack housing.
It's a pretty cut-and-dry operation. Good luck!
Also don't forget to tighten the jamb nut.. and don't forget to have the alignment done afterwards!
