Hey guys im doin a suspension overhaul on an 1990 std hatch that i bought recently, my daily driver. I plan to replace all the ball joints and bushings because i want to lower the car and it needs an alignment very badly now anyway.
Two questions
1.Are their any special tools required to remove the inner tie rod?
2. Is the rack end bushing right next to the passenger inner tie rod? and how hard is it to replace?

 

ive changed my tie rod n d rod bolt few days ago since the old ones were stucked n couldnt be adjusted! it was a pretty much a straight forward job to remove d inner rod with normal spanner as long as the thread is still good.

my rack end bushings were removed during d removal of d stereng rack (had to take off my exhaust pipe connecting to d extractor n my lower arm tie bar as well) so it took a while to get things dismantled.

my new tie rod set


fits perfectly


dismantling of d power steering rack

 

is it possible to replace the rackend bushing while the rack is still in the car? Also how many rack end bushings are there? according to majestichonda all you need is one

 

I replaced my bushings on the steering rack. There are 3 on one side and one on the other side. I dont remember taking it off the car.

 

Don't get confused, there are steering rack bushings that mount the assembly to the car and one rack end bushing that keeps the rack centered inside the steering tube. Only one rack end bushing on the passenger's side. Easy to change once you remove the inner tie rod.

 

got'cha.. That clears it up then

 

nice sounds good do u need any special tools to remove the inner tie rods?

 

No

 

For the inner tie rods, I just used a chisel to "unbend" the special washers. I thin wrench can then be used to unscrew the tie rod from the rack. I found it easiest to turn the wheel so the tie rod was full extended on the side I was removing the tie rods from and then fully retracted to remove the rack end bushing.

 

what is the symptoms if our tie rod ends not good anymore?..is it lcucking sounds while turning ur wheels?..

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by gamakichi77 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">what is the symptoms if our tie rod ends not good anymore?..is it lcucking sounds while turning ur wheels?..</TD></TR></TABLE>

yes. and knocking sounds from the passenger side going over bumps.

dont forget to adjust the pinion gear box also.

look in the faq for more info.

 

which one is the pinion gear box?..any pics could help me out?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by gamakichi77 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">which one is the pinion gear box?..any pics could help me out?</TD></TR></TABLE>

ditto

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by gamakichi77 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">which one is the pinion gear box?..any pics could help me out?</TD></TR></TABLE>

anybody?....

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by gamakichi77 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">which one is the pinion gear box?..any pics could help me out?</TD></TR></TABLE> That shinny bolt in the pic, where the steering column goes into is the pinion gear box. On a stock steering rack, the bolt and nut are the same color, the nut doesn't look like it moves but it does. You have to put a wrench on it to loosen it and then tighten the bolt.

 

i'd just change my steering rack and tie rod ends, for both inner / outer and left / right....by what u mentioned above, "don't forget to adjust the pinion gear box"...is it just tightening it?...coz, rite now, sometimes got free play while driving and when i let go the steering wheel, my car always go to the left....and aliignment been done as well...

what is the problem i'd left which not been settled yet?

 

i would say adjusting the pinion is 20% of the source of play in the rack.

if the car is drifting when you let go of the steering wheel, your alignment is not good. perhaps they did a bad job, or your caster and camber is off.

 

alignment been done twice...the steering still turn to the left while driving

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by gamakichi77 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">alignment been done twice...the steering still turn to the left while driving</TD></TR></TABLE>Are you going to the same place for the alignment? They may not be doing it right, or not at all. The place I used to take my wife's car never did the alignment right, she was still wearing out tires. It wasn't until we up and chose to go to a place further away that the job actually was done right.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by gamakichi77 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">alignment been done twice...the steering still turn to the left while driving</TD></TR></TABLE>

show us the print out then.

 

both is not the same place...

 

back from the dead! quick questions:

i have play on the pass side inner tie rod. is that a TIE ROD issue or the BUSHING? i'd hate to order the inner end and find out the bushing is the problem.

thanks for reading!