Tie Rod: Service and Repair
Removal
NOTE: The following procedures cover both inner and outer tie rod removal. The outer tie rod must be removed before the inner tie rod can be removed.
Outer Tie Rod
1. Raise and support vehicle.
2. Remove front wheel and tire assembly.
3. Turn wheel to full stop to extend inner tie rod being serviced outward.
4. Loosen inner tie rod to outer tie rod jam nut.
5. Remove nut attaching outer tie rod end to steering knuckle. To do this, hold tie rod end stud stationary with a socket while loosening and removing nut with a wrench.
6. Remove tie rod end stud from steering knuckle arm using Remover, Special Tool C-3894-A.
7. Remove outer tie rod end by unthreading it from inner tie rod. Count number of turns required to remove outer tie rod. This will aid during installation.
Inner Tie Rod
1. Remove outer tie rod. Refer to above procedure.
2. Remove tie rod jam nut from inner tie rod.
3. Remove clamp securing bellows to inner tie rod.
4. Left side only - Remove leak detection pump mounting screws, then move pump toward center of vehicle.
5. Remove clamp securing bellows to steering gear body.
6. Remove clamp securing bellows to transfer tube.
7. Remove bellows from inner tie rod.
8. Remove travel restrictor from inner tie rod.
9. Install appropriate inner tie rod removal tool.
CAUTION: Place an appropriate size wrench on the exposed section of the rack gear while loosening the inner tie rod to resist rotation and prevent damage to the gear mechanism. Do not use a tool that could damage the rack gear.
CAUTION: If inner tie rod cannot be removed using specified tools, do not use a hammer or heat to loosen. Damage to steering gear will occur. Replace entire steering gear.
10. While holding rack gear stationary using an appropriate size wrench placed on exposed section of rack gear, unthread and remove inner tie rod.
Installation
NOTE: The following procedures cover both inner and outer tie rod installation. The inner tie rod must be installed before the outer tie rod can be installed.
Inner Tie Rod
1. Install travel restrictor, flat side of teeth facing out, on inboard end of inner tie rod ball joint.
2. Apply Mopar© Lock & Seal Adhesive or equivalent medium thread locker adhesive to inboard end threads of inner tie rod.
CAUTION: Place an appropriate size wrench on the exposed section of the rack gear to resist rotation and prevent damage to the gear mechanism during inner tie rod installation. Do not use a tool that could damage the rack gear.
3. Install inner tie rod onto gear using appropriate inner tie rod installer tool or crows foot wrench. While holding rack gear stationary using an appropriate size wrench placed on exposed section of rack gear, tighten inner tie rod to 78 Nm, (58 ft. lbs.).
4. Apply a small amount of Mopar© Lubriplate or equivalent uniformly to groove in inner tie rod shaft where bellows mounts. This allows for toe adjustment without twisting bellows.
5. Place new transfer tube clamp over transfer tube past where bellows will mount.
6. Loosely place new clamp over large end of bellows.
7. Slide new bellows with clamp over end of inner tie rod and onto gear body and transfer tube.
8. Push small end of bellows past groove machined into inner tie rod, then pull it outward until ridge inside bellows engages groove.
9. Install clamp securing bellows to transfer tube.
10. Using crimping pliers, crimp bellows clamp at gear body.
11. Install clamp over small end of bellows
12. Left side only - Position leak detection pump and install mounting screws.
13. Thread tie rod jam nut onto inner tie rod far enough to install outer tie rod.
14. Install outer tie rod. Refer to following procedure.
Outer Tie Rod
NOTE: Before installing the outer tie rod, make sure the jam nut is on inner tie rod and that it is installed far enough to install outer tie rod.
1. Using same amount of turns as counted during removal procedure, install outer tie rod onto inner tie rod.
2. Install outer tie rod end into steering knuckle. Start tie rod end to steering knuckle nut onto stud of outer tie rod end. While holding stud of tie rod end stationary, tighten tie rod end to steering knuckle nut using crowfoots foot wrench and socket nut to 75 Nm (55 ft. lbs.)
3. Snug tie rod jam nut at this time. Do not fully tighten to specifications. Tighten to specifications once toe is set in last step of procedure.
4. Install front wheel and tire assembly.
5. Lower vehicle.
6. Adjust front toe and tighten tie rod jam nut to 75 Nm (55 ft. lbs.).