tie rod end replacement

Hey guys and gals. Has anyone done this in their second Gen. I'm pissed because I just had it aligned but now I have a bad tie rod end on the drivers side. I heard some clicking and clunking. Looked behind wheel and saw the sway bar end link had a ripped boot and leaking grease. I solved that by removing sway bar. It was better for about 2 days now I see the outer tie rod end boot where it connects to hub area is leaking grease. I hear the clunk when turning over bumps and stuff. I assume that's the issue.
Has anyone done this? Any special tools needed? Re align after i assume? Thanks

 

I did mine this morning didn't take the wheels off in my case.

19mm or 3/4in socket, big fucking hammer or a pickle fork or the proper press tool and some good pliers for the cotter pin. Torque the nut to 36ft lbs

Yeah I would realign the truck afterwards

 

Thanks man. I think I have a fork. I may rent a puller but may have sonething thatll work. just wanna know so I can get it the first time.

 

I used a big hammer to bang on the spindle until the tie rod popped out. Took a hit or two, but it's my favorite method that works on most if not all cars and trucks.

 

it shouldn't be too hard...

different truck but same procedure for most all vehicles


torquing my be different, just check the manual it should be in there

 

Thanks a lot man

 

I did it a couple years ago. May as well change both at same time. Mark the threads where the current end is screwed down to on the tie rod. then screw the new ones to that point. That won't make your alignment perfect but will make it drive a bit better on way to get aligned.

 

A clunk over bumps is not usually a tie rod end. Tie rod end usually shows in tire wear. Jack up the tire and grasp at 3 and 9 and see if there is movement.

 

I did that. There is no movement. It only happened when I'm turning. Not going straight over bumps. Like when I turn onto a road or parking lot and there is some kind of transition in the road

 

I have same issue, I never had a clink or any notice, I changed out UCA,LCA, sway bar bushing's. Everything is tight but it's only when I turn, slow, or sometimes when I back up. Doesn't do it all the time. No issues when driving. Curious to see what fixes yours so I can try it.

 

I'll fix the tie rod end. Easy and cheap enough. I Checked every other nut and bolt and this is the only issue I see. I'll keep you posted

 

Could also be a wheel bearing. When they start to go out they make clunks and clicks then start to sounds like a grinding/growling noise....or that's what my mechanic told me at least. I actually just ordered the wheel bearing today and will fix it when I get it in the mail.
I had the same clicks and clunks so I'm hoping this wheel bearing fixes it.

Although you did say the boot was torn on your tie rod so that'll fix it for you most likely

 

I hope this fixes it and it's not a wheel bearing.

 

I've got 284k on mine only replaced wheel bearing once so I guess it might be time lol. But I don't wanna just toss money around to see if it fixes it either.

 

I have the clunk after replacing the diff bushing, upper ball joint and tie rod end. Thinking it has something to do with the steering.

 

Did you get it realigned?

 

Not yet but I did count how many threads out the tie rod end on before I took it out, then threaded it in with the same count threads.

 

Maybe a steering rack bushing, I've heard it is not hard to replace

 

so i got under the truck again today and had a look. i dont think its the tie rod ends. i was thinking maybe somewhere is the steering shaft or something or wheel bearing. i had no play when trying to wiggle the wheel at 12 and 6, a little noise but no play when doing at 9 and 3 oclock. i read more here about popping noises from the front end. i checked the LCA bolts and they were way under torqued, took me several turns to get them to 100 ft lbs. i havent test driven it yet but i think maybe this was it. i hope so anyway.

 

I recently replaced the bushings for the sway bar due to clunking noises coming from the front end. The noise stopped after.