Inner tie rod ends

Therian · May 13, 2007

I have the steering rack out of the car, how hard is it to do the inner tie rod ends? Is there any advantage to taking it to a shop instead (i.e. I don't want to mess up the alignment to the point where they would have to do it anyway)

Also, does anyone know off hand how much a reman rack costs? I assume this would have new inner tie rod ends. Would anyone suggest going this route?

Thanks

CMEFLY · May 13, 2007

Inner tie rods are very easy to do. You might need a vice as your rack is removed from the car to hold the steering rack while you remove tie rods. You can measure the tie rod length or count the threads or revolutions when you remove the outer tie rod ends.That will get you close when you reinstall the outer ends. Whether you do it or a shop does it, you should have an alignment done for best tire wear. Not all steering racks come with inner tie rods. Short racks =no tie rods, long racks=inner tie rods. hope this helps.

1TallMF · May 14, 2007

I just changed my rack on saturday, came with the inner tie rods. Its a reman unit with lifetime warranty, I paid $177CND after core trade-in at Crappy Tire (for the boys from the south, this is the Canadian equivalent to Autozone more or less). If you were to just be changing the inners, it would be easy to do with the rack attached to the K-member so it doesn't try to turn as you're loosening them. There's a little pin that you have to tap-out which prevents the inner from turning, then its just a matter of unscrewing it from the rack.
As for keeping the alignment in check, I also installed new outer tie rod ends, so it was a matter of matching-up both the old and new assemblies as best I could. I measured from the inner lip, where the boot attaches to the rack body, to the inside of the square part on the outer tie rod ends and tried to get it as close as possible. Now with the new parts on the car it drives straight as an arrow even on the highway, but I'm getting an alignment done today anyways. I'd rather pay $69 for an alignment now than paying $300 for a new set of front tires later.

Therian · May 14, 2007

1TallMF said:
I just changed my rack on saturday, came with the inner tie rods. Its a reman unit with lifetime warranty, I paid $177CND after core trade-in at Crappy Tire (for the boys from the south, this is the Canadian equivalent to Autozone more or less). If you were to just be changing the inners, it would be easy to do with the rack attached to the K-member so it doesn't try to turn as you're loosening them. There's a little pin that you have to tap-out which prevents the inner from turning, then its just a matter of unscrewing it from the rack.
As for keeping the alignment in check, I also installed new outer tie rod ends, so it was a matter of matching-up both the old and new assemblies as best I could. I measured from the inner lip, where the boot attaches to the rack body, to the inside of the square part on the outer tie rod ends and tried to get it as close as possible. Now with the new parts on the car it drives straight as an arrow even on the highway, but I'm getting an alignment done today anyways. I'd rather pay $69 for an alignment now than paying $300 for a new set of front tires later.

Was there a specific reason you went with a new rack over just getting new inner tie rod ends? Thanks Stephane

1TallMF · May 14, 2007

Yeah, actually in my case there was a slow leak on the passenger-side end seal for about a year that I didn't bother fixing because it was so slow, and then a few weeks ago the front-end was making a knocking sound on bumps, which turned-out to be the driver's side inner tie rod. So I figured now would be a good time to change the whole thing, and at the same time I also found the passenger-side outer tie rod end was worn-out as well. Now I have a totally new steering system and it feels much smoother and more responsive than the old stuff. I'd still like to get a better steering shaft to get rid of that last little bit of dead-spot in the wheel, but the new rack reduced that considerably.

Therian · May 14, 2007

1TallMF said:
Yeah, actually in my case there was a slow leak on the passenger-side end seal for about a year that I didn't bother fixing because it was so slow, and then a few weeks ago the front-end was making a knocking sound on bumps, which turned-out to be the driver's side inner tie rod. So I figured now would be a good time to change the whole thing, and at the same time I also found the passenger-side outer tie rod end was worn-out as well. Now I have a totally new steering system and it feels much smoother and more responsive than the old stuff. I'd still like to get a better steering shaft to get rid of that last little bit of dead-spot in the wheel, but the new rack reduced that considerably.

Depending on the price of the inner tie rods, I'll probably leave the rack, as it seems to be functioning well. I will however add new rack bushings and an 03 steering arm. I'll let you know how it feels when I'm done

1TallMF · May 14, 2007

Therian said:
Depending on the price of the inner tie rods, I'll probably leave the rack, as it seems to be functioning well. I will however add new rack bushings and an 03 steering arm. I'll let you know how it feels when I'm done

Where are you getting you Cobra steering arm? I'd be very interested in one if they're not ridiculously expensive like the MM or flaming river ones.

HISSIN50 · May 14, 2007

It seems like the cobra steering shaft was a one-time thing and now it's gone.

I cant find it anywhere.

I'm going to do some similar work - I just ordered new FLCAs and might also swap my rack.

Therian · May 14, 2007

1TallMF said:
Where are you getting you Cobra steering arm? I'd be very interested in one if they're not ridiculously expensive like the MM or flaming river ones.

unfortunately for you (but fortunately for me) I ordered my steering shaft from BOI before they stopped selling them. I'm not sure why they don't have them anymore - maybe Ford made too many and had to dump them, and BOI got the contract.

I also find the timing somewhat strange. I ordered mine March 20th, so they must have recently ran out. Best bet is to email BOI and ask what the deal is.

Here is the link to mine for reference: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...RK:MEWN:IT&viewitem=&item=260097226209&rd=1,1

HISSIN50 said:
I'm going to do some similar work - I just ordered new FLCAs and might also swap my rack.

Let me know how it goes. At the rate I'm going, you'll be done before me .

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