CR-V Inner Tie Rod Replacement

[Buzz18]

My 99 CRV's Driver side front wheel assembly has a lot of side to side movement when the steering wheel is held still. The outer tie rod seems tight. The movement seems to be coming from the inner tie rod. Anyone have any tips on how to change this. For example are special tools required? Do you have to destroy the boot to remove the inner tie rod? Is this job best left to a shop? Any advice would be much appreciated.

[superbluecivicsi]

did you actually jack up the car and inspect the axle, halfshaft, rod, lca, fork, and uca before assuming it is the tie rod?

[Buzz18]

Originally Posted by superbluecivicsi

did you actually jack up the car and inspect the axle, halfshaft, rod, lca, fork, and uca before assuming it is the tie rod?

I jacked it up and checked for movement in the wheel end. All the movement was side to side - 3 and 9 O'clock directions. No movement pushing in the 6 and 12 O'clock positions. PAssenger side is still tight.

I was able to isolate the source to either the steering box or the inner tie rod. It has 115,000 miles on it. I plan on changing both outer tie rods anyway but I'm not sure how to approach the inner rod. It looks tight for space which may require special tools.