I ran across a potentially life threatening problem today while thankfully at school in a parking garage. I say life threatening because if this happens again except while I'm driving it could endanger my life and/or others. My inner tie rod fell out of my rack while turning the wheels to pull out of a space Completely separated itself from the rack, and my first thought was "Must be a broken ball joint." Nope, it had somehow rotated all the way out of the thread - both the inner male threads and the racks female threads were fully intact. Being prepared as I am, I pulled my tools out and fixed it on the spot, but I was left thinking: how?

1) When I put the assembly back together, I couldn't get the inner tie rod to stay mounted flush to the rack. Once tightened to the outer rod, it would back out if I rotated the outer. Is that supposed to happen?

2) Is it possible that I am missing some minute piece such as the Tie Rod Lock Washer (53536-SB2-000) or that it somehow broke if it was already present? I didn't check to see if it was present when I put everything together, it 100% slipped my mind until I viewed the diagram.

 

There should be a lock washer with 2 metal tabs on it, that go into 2 slots on the rack. That holds the inner tie rod if i remember correctly. I did it over the summer but i remember those lock washers for sure

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by alscrx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">There should be a lock washer with 2 metal tabs on it, that go into 2 slots on the rack. That holds the inner tie rod if i remember correctly. I did it over the summer but i remember those lock washers for sure </TD></TR></TABLE> I remember it on the pinion side, I just can't remember it on the other side. Well, I ordered a replacement and a new boot from the dealer so I'll either attack it tomorrow or Wednesday after my last final.

 

Those lock washers on on both sides!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by alscrx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Those lock washers on on both sides!</TD></TR></TABLE> I know that, I just can't remember ever seeing one on my garage floor back in July or on the actual rod today for that side. Sort of a big memory blank as I distinctly remember it on the other side. To be determined on re-disassembly though.

 

thats crazy it just fell out i had a hell of a time taking a steering rack apart.