Hcivic88

hey,
i ordered in some new front inner and outer tie rods, i figured out how to replace the outer tie rod. Anybody know what all is envolved to change the inner tie rod? i know that i'll probably have to get that boot off of there to get at it.
can someone give me some details on what to do??
thanx

Hcivic88

noone knows how to replace the inner tie rod end??

Ash J. Williams

in three words, "too much work". get a junker steering rack, besides the inner tie rod is usually not the culprit, it's the bushing that holds the pinion, that is not replaceble without replacing the whole rack.
stan

Tyson

replacing the inner tie rod is quite simple actually. just remove the outer tierod end, then the accordian boot. the boot clamps are kind of annoying, i just cut the big one off since its so rusted and used a zip tie as a replacement. the smaller clamp is ok, just twist it off. then you just wrench off the inner tie rod. dont bother trying to unfold that special crush washer just wrench it off and it will give. youll need to replace that with a new one. then just put the new balljoint in. and replace with the new crush washer and fold it once its tight. be sure to check alignment.

as for the steering rack bushing, its replaceable without taking the steering rack out. its just a bit of PITA. its easier to unbolt the 4 support bolts and drop the steering rack a bit to give more working room, then you just get a needle nose or some other type of pick and work it out. grease up the new one and push it in. replaceing it makes quite a huge difference. i had a slot of slack on my bushing, i could feel it as i pushed up from under the tie rod end. however, play could be in either the outer balljoint, inner ball joint, or steering rack bushing, but it should be pretty simple to figure out which is the culprit tho.

Hcivic88

it was the outer tie rod end ball joint that needed to be replaced, so i had one of my friends come over and we were gonna change them, so we each went on a side and started taking it off, it took me a bit of effort but i got the passengers side off and right when i finished i heard something break, my friend(taking off the other side) somehow snapped the inner tie rod end right off where the outer tie rod screws in, so i picked up another inner tie rod end for the drivers side.
all i have to do is figure out how to replace it.
so all i have to do is:
1. cut off the big clamp on the boot
2. take the small clamp off of the boot
3. slide the boot off of the tie rod
4. unscrew the inner tie rod
5. screw in the new inner tie rod
6. slide the boot back on
7. clip the small clip back ontot the boot
8. use a zip tie on the opposite side of the boot
9. screw the outer tie rod end back on

and that should be it??
thanks a lot for all the help, ill try this as soon as i get confirmation that this is right from either Tyson, 90crxsi or anyone else here

Hcivic88

also, here is a picture i found incase it can help anyone out if they search for this

Tyson

the number 22 part is the crush washer that you should replace.

(to be honest, i didnt, but im not recommending that.)

Ash J. Williams

i strongly suggest getting a replacement rack and rebuilding it, i found it extremely hard to work on it and if you need the car the next monday you might be left with a disassembeled rack on your hands. it usually goes for 30-50 dollars and most of them need no drastic rebuilt.
stan

edit in my earlier post i meant to say bearing instead of bushing (lack of sleep) the bearing in the pinion and gear assembly. that is what sometimes causes the slop in the steering


[Modified by 90crxsi, 3:47 PM 8/28/2002]