4th of July - Inner/Outer Tie Rod End Job

Somehow I managed to keep the truck build on schedule and finish the tie rod end job today. I want to thank @Uphillshunter for posting the following thread. This helped me get things ready for today.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/tie-rod-end-replacement-suggestions.523928/

Nothing earth-shattering about this job. OEM parts. I did find the steering rack has a small leak on the passenger side. I'll be installing a new rack or trying to figure out how to get new seals in this rack before winter. Instead of wasting my new OEM inner boot clamps on this soon to be repaired or replaced rack, I used zip ties. The OEM boot fits tight so I don't see it coming loose.

I do want to post some tools that turned out to be winners on this job.

This 15pc Harbor Freight Service Tool package turned out to be a real help. I used the 30mm for rack on the inner tie rod and the 28mm and 27mm for the outer tie rod adjustments. It was money well spent for this HF front end service tool set.



For the 42mm inner tie rod, I had to make an unexpected run to Tractor Supply to get a big 18" crescent wrench. I should have bought the next size smaller that would have worked on the 42mm. This is a heavy tool to use when laying on the ground and working under your truck.



The old tie rods. The outers had busted boots. The inners were loose from wear. It was time to replace them.



Picture of the new inner tie rod. The picture was made before I cinched the retainer ring around the butt end of the rod.



Picture of the new outer tie rod with boot.



Using the crescent wrench with the 30mm service tool. It worked without issue.



Here's a picture of the 30mm service tool on the rack with my cheater bar that I bought at Lowe's many years ago.



It made a nice improvement in the way it drives. It tightened up the steering and help remedy the shaking feeling that I was getting on the highway.

I got incredibly lucky on hitting the alignment for this DIY job. I counted the outer adjustment threads on each side and set the new with the same number. I can drive it down the interstate and it tracks perfectly in a straight line as a car with a good alignment should.

Even though it drives great, I will take it to Firestone in the morning to use my lifetime alignment package for a check and to get the steering wheel position centered. I realize I didn't request a steering wheel position center during the last alignment.

This was the sixth inner and outer tie rod end DIY job that I've done over the past 10 years. I will say this has been the easiest and most satisfying of them all.

 

If possible, could you post a picture of the tool that you used to pop the outer tie rod loose?

 

Well, you caught me on that one. Ha! It was a 2lb baby sledgehammer from Harbor Freight ($5.99).

Flip the castle nut so the bottom is flush with the threaded tie rod end post. Give it a couple of taps on the side, then a firm pop the flush side of the upsidedown castle nut to break it free. Then I used my air impact to spin the upsidedown castle nut off. The tie rod drops out after that. Since I'm replacing the tie rod anyway, I don't care about trying to save the old one.

I don't like to talk about this because results may vary greatly on this due to the amount of salt exposure and rust. I have a buddy on Long Island that literally had to cut an old tie rod off because it rusted so deeply into the knuckle. All of my cars have avoided salt and rust. So for them, it's just a "tap tap tap" and it's off.
This is one of those "attempt it at own risk" items.

 

Thanks, I appreciate the photo. When I tried that on my 1998 it didn't work, but then I didn't have too much room to swing the hammer, and I'm not as strong as I used to be. Hopefully I won't have to replace my ball joints anytime soon.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/rack-pinion-service-tools-tips.312600/

 

Thank you for the link. Good deal!

 

@CS_AR your post are always confidence inspiring! Thank you!

 

When I was doing my LBJs, I picked up a cheap Pitman Puller from Harbor Freight and it popped the outer tie rods off with ease (LBJ's too)

I tried the hammer method but I was too afraid of damaging the tie rods since I was reusing them.

 

Thank you Roger!

 

This is the best tool for reuse.

 

We had Tacoma/4Runnner day at Firestone this morning. There was another 1st Gen PreRunner owner getting some tires - he might be joining TW. A red 3rd Gen getting some kind of aggressive mud tires. I was getting a front end alignment and rack bushings. Also, they had a 4Runner in for some front end work. The Toyota owners all came out in force this morning.

 

That's exactly what I bought. Problem was that I couldn't get the tool to fit squarely on the LBJ, (or whatever you call it). IIRC the side of the tool kept hitting the brake shield and I just couldn't force the tool in enough so that the bolt would be centered over the LBJ.

So I took it back and bought another type from HF. Similar problem, I just could not get the lever on that tool to sit squarely over the LBJ bolt because the "fork" part was just not wide enough to fit all the way over the ball.