inner tie rod on 1989 Toyota Camry

[JOET/CAMRY]

Hello,

I have a 1989 Toyota Camry and the boots for the inner tie rods are in bad shape. one of them is split completely apart and the other one is severely cracked. the inner tie rod ends are still in good shape so I bought replacement boots at pep boys for $10.00 each. before I replace the boots I have a few questions.

1. should I regrease the inner tie rod joint? (it looks like a hip joint) if so how much grease should i use?

2. should the joint be cleaned first with carb. cleaner or something similar?

I have never had to replace inner tie rod ends or the boots that cover them.

any help/advice will be appreciated.

Regards,
JOET/CAMRY

[Brian R.]

Since the joint doesn't rotate, I would figure that you can clean off the joint with a solvent-soaked rag, let it dry, and then cover it with alot of moly grease.

[davemac2]

I agree with Brian. Don't spray the cleaner into the joint since you may drive bad diluted grease into the cup. Wipe as much grease off first with a lint-free cloth, then clean it with the cloth soaked in cleaner, then repack some grease around it. Protect the outer seal of the boot which rides against the tire rod itself during installation by wrapping the end threads of the tie rod with electrical tape and lubing the rod with a little grease before you slip the new inner boot over it.

davemc

[JOET/CAMRY]

Originally Posted by JOET/CAMRY

Hello,

I have a 1989 Toyota Camry and the boots for the inner tie rods are in bad shape. one of them is split completely apart and the other one is severely cracked. the inner tie rod ends are still in good shape so I bought replacement boots at pep boys for $10.00 each. before I replace the boots I have a few questions.

1. should I regrease the inner tie rod joint? (it looks like a hip joint) if so how much grease should i use?

2. should the joint be cleaned first with carb. cleaner or something similar?

I have never had to replace inner tie rod ends or the boots that cover them.

any help/advice will be appreciated.

Regards,
JOET/CAMRY

UPDATE....


About 2 weeks ago I put in this post about about replacing the inner tie rod boots and asked if the joints of the inner tie rods should be regreased. Brian R and Davemac2 gave me good advice on doing this job. Thanks alot guys.

Today I finally got to get this job done and took a few pictures.

here is the passenger side inner tie rod after I took the old split / cracked boot off and cleaned it with a rag soaked with carb.cleaner. I did spray the inner tie rod joint with carb cleaner a few times to get it squeeky clean. I couldn't resist. I think that was my ocd acting up. I did check the inner tie rods for excessive play and there was none. still in great shape after all the miles put on the car.



once the inner tie rod joint was clean and dry I loaded it up with grease. I pressed the grease into the joint the best I could while moving the tie rod up, down, left, right (you get the picture). even turned the tie rod a few times clockwise / counter clockwise while working the grease to into the joint.



once I was done greasing the inner tie rod joint the best I could I slipped the new boots on the tie rods. I needed to take the outer tie rods off to slip the boots on. I greased up the tie rods and the threads like Davemac2 said to make installation eaiser and to prevent the new boots from ripping.



Last time i'll have to replace these on this car considering the boots I replaced were the original inner tie rod boots. around 17 years old.
hope this update helps someone out.

Regards,

JOET/CAMRY

[Brian R.]

Thanks for posting the update and the pics.