na4now

I bought a 93 hatch today, and the sterring felt squirrelly, and shakes on the highway.

I jacked it up and looked at it, and the ball and socket, where the tie-rod goes into the steering rack, is wore out. Can I replace this joint, or will I have to change the whole rack?

na4now

I slid the boot back, btw.

t0p_sh0tta

#1 (I think, the pic sucks), inner tie rod. $40 @ HondaAutomotiveParts.com

cimo463

the shaking steering wheel sounds like out of balanced tires

t0p_sh0tta

It can also be due to worn suspension components. Cupping of the tires is also indicative of various suspension issues (worn struts, worn balljoints, etc.).

na4now

Tires might be out of balance. The inner part of the tire is worn, also. Im sure this is because this tie rod is so loose.

How do you remove this piece? How does it come off?

sniggler316

You need a REALLY big wrench. It's easier if you drop the rack IMO

na4now

What do you replace? The whole thing (in green)? Does the deal circled in red, unscrew?

92ehatch

grab your wheel at 9 and 3 and shake.

does it wobble?

if so look at the joint you have circled. does it move when you shake the wheel?

if so then thats the problem. if not then its not causing your issue.

use that same method for the balljoint on the outer tie rod (close to the rotor)

now do the same thing but with your hands at 12 and 6.

if it wobbles then watch the upper balljoint and lower balljoint on the upper and lower control arms.

if they dont move when you do that, but the wheel wobbles when using the 12 and 6 method, then it is most likely a wheel bearing.

i hope that makes sense..

crown and coke ftw

na4now

Of course it wobbles. Thats the whole reason for posting this, with pictures. I need to no how it comes off, and which piece/pieces to replace.

na4now

This is what new inner tie rods look like. They dont look the same. Are they?

DaZDiLI

you should go get an Alignment first to see if that solves your probelem.

oneludesol

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by DaZDiLI &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">you should go get an Alignment first to see if that solves your probelem.</TD></TR></TABLE>

And how exactly would YOU go about aligning a car with a trashed tie rod?

na4now

You cant. You have to fix the broken part, first. Anyone know exactly how the inner tie rod, comes off the rack?

t0p_sh0tta

There's a special socket that's used to remove it. Somebody mentioned something about a BIG wrench, which might work, but I've never done it that way.

sniggler316

I used a giant wrench to unscrew mine, I didn't know about that special socket. Mine had two flat sides where I could get a wrench on it. They just trun out clockwise like anything else.

oneludesol

LOL DUH I was being sarcastic

na4now

I oredered these exact ones, offf ebay. Does this look correct? They look different to me.

sniggler316

Those are what you need. While you are in there, I would check all the other ball joints and tie rod ends. Might even want to do the axles if they haven't been replaced.

na4now

Thanks. Everything else looks real good.

The last time I had this problem, I just changed the whole rack! What a bitch! Had to drop the exhaust and shift linkage. This should be alot easier.

na4now

Any idea what size wrench that is? I dont need to put a wrench on the steering rack side?

oneludesol

you need to grab a tie rod end tool... dont you fuking dare go near that with a wrench

sniggler316

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by na4now &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Any idea what size wrench that is? I dont need to put a wrench on the steering rack side?</TD></TR></TABLE>
I dunno, I used a big crescent. The rack side I think is 21?
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by oneludesol &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">you need to grab a tie rod end tool... dont you fuking dare go near that with a wrench
</TD></TR></TABLE>
Why not?

oneludesol

It is alot easier to get loan a tool from discount, than rounding that **** off and spending the rest of your life trying to remove it... that thing needs to be held all the way around, and they are usually tight as ****. You got lucky with the wrench.

sniggler316

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by oneludesol &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">It is alot easier to get loan a tool from discount, than rounding that **** off and spending the rest of your life trying to remove it... that thing needs to be held all the way around, and they are usually tight as ****. You got lucky with the wrench.</TD></TR></TABLE>
I guess I'm "lucky," I don't see how you can round those off, but if you can find someplace to loan you the tool, then by all means, go that route. That tool is probably expensive as **** to buy though...