- 1). Jack up the front of your vehicle and secure it with jack stands.
- 2). Remove the front wheels by loosening the lug nuts and pulling the wheels off.
- 3). Straighten and remove the cotter pin holding the tie rod end nut in place, using the needle-nose pliers, .
- 4). Loosen the tie rod end nut and remove it from the tie rod end. Using the hammer, pound on the tie rod end stud until it is free from the steering knuckle.
- 5). Loosen the locking nut on the inner tie rod end, using an open-ended wrench, and twist it until about 1/2-inch of thread is exposed. Using the paint and brush, mark a line where the outer tie rod end stops on the inner tie rod end. This allows you to place the new tie rod end almost exactly where the old one was.
- 6). Hold the inner tie rod still with the channel-lock pliers while you unscrew and remove the outer tie rod end. Check the inner tie rod end threads for any damage while they are exposed.
- 7). Unpack the new outer tie rod end and compare it to the old tie rod end to make certain there are no differences prior to installation.
- 8). Screw the new tie rod end onto the inner tie rod end until you reach the paint marking you made.
- 9). Put the new tie rod end stud through the hole provided in the steering knuckle. You may need to screw or unscrew the tie rod end to make it line up.
- 10
Screw the tie rod nut on the stud and tighten it snugly. There is no need to torque this bolt, as it is secured by a cotter pin. Place a new cotter pin through the hole on the stud and bend the cotter pin with needle-nose pliers to hold in place. - 11
Screw the lock nut on the inner tie rod end until it meets the outer tie rod end and use an open-ended wrench to tighten it securely. - 12
Replace the wheels and torque them to 80 ft-lbs. with your torque wrench. - 13
Lower the vehicle and test the steering to make certain you have a full range of steering and that nothing is binding up.
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