how to install tie rod ends?

[88capriceclassic]

how would i take out my old tie rods and put in inner, outer tie rod ends and a center drag link for my 1993 vic LX non police?

[hotrod_chevyz]

All you need is a 3/8 drive long handle ratchet or breaker bar, a MM socket set, a pair of needle nose pliars, a pickel fork, and a big hammer. A 1/2 inch drive setup is better.

Pull any and all pins on the tie rods, center link, pitman and idler arm if any. Its easier this way and you can buy pins to replace any that are decayed.

Remove the nuts locking the pieces in place, put the fork in between the joints and hit the end of the separator tool with a big hammer. It sometimes takes a few hits to get them separated, depends on how big the hammer is

Try to find tie rods and a center link that can be greased.

If you reuse any tie rod ends, dont fork them until you have taken them apart. To get the inner and outer tie rods apart is going to probably take some WD-40 and possibly heated with a torch . Once you get the threads moving along, pickel fork the outer tie rod loose, and grab it with a large pipe wrench to take the inner and outer apart from each other.

Once you get it all put together use a tape measure to align it good enough to get to an alignment shop. heres a way you can do that.

1: Lock the steering wheel perfectly centered before you start adjusting the tie rods. Measure from the center of the rear wheels to the center of the front wheels on both sides. Find the side wich measures shortest.

2: measure the distance between the exact center of the front tires, both on the front side and the back side. write the measurements down.


3: If it measures wider in front than in back, shorten the tie rod on the side of the car that has the shorter measurement front to back. If it measures narrower in front than in back, Lengthen the tie rod on the side that measures longest front to back.

4: you want the front tires front measurement to be about 1/8 inch shorter than the front tires rear measurement, if im not mistaken. After that if they all match air the tires up to the proper inflation and see if it pulls or anything. Other than that have it aligned by a computer.

[sheebeehuh]

This link may help a little too...

http://www.autoclinix.com/Mercury/TieRods.html