2000 Inner Tie Rod - My Experience

____ · #1 10-17-2007, 11:01 PM

Went for an alignment, they said I needed right inner and outer tie rod. I have only done the outers before. I researched inner tie rod replacement on this forum and came up with mixed info. Basically what it seems to boil down to is you either have to pull the whole steering rack -or- get a special tool to remove the inner tie rod with the rack in place.

The special tool is basically a ridiculously deep 1-5/16" socket (about 16" deep) that fits over the whole inner tie rod then you use a ratchet or breaker bar on it.

I went to Autozone and bought the parts & rented the special tool for $30. The guy at autozone warned me," that tool never works for anyone." Upon examining the tool and the tie rod I found that Autozone's inner tie rod is manufactured in a way that doesn't allow the special tool to even fit at all onto the inner tie rod. I went to VIP auto parts down the road and bought a tie rod that was of the correct design to use the tool then returned the one I bought at autozone.

Jacked up the van, pulled the wheel, removed tie rod end, removed inner tie rod boot. NOW, on the inner tie rod there was a pin (more like a rivet) through the threaded area that needs to be removed. I simply tapped a chisel carefully under the lip of the rivet then pried the pin up and out.

Next I put the special tool over the inner tie rod, used a medium size breaker bar start loosening it then used a ratchet to remove it with ease. Put new tie rod on, screwed it in, torqued it to 65 ft. lbs, insert new pin that came with it, put boot back on (nylon zip tie on inside, metal clip on outside). Finally I put on a new tie rod end, greased it, buttoned everything up, and took it for an alignment today.

So, basically, make sure you get the special tool and a compatible tie rod then the job is not very hard. I had never done (or seen) and inner tie rod before.

This was my experience, I hope it helps someone.

phil-l · #2 10-18-2007, 07:17 AM

Sounds good! Thanks for sharing your experience!

Hmmmm - I wonder how the folks who designed the AutoZone part expect you to be able to use it...

rodeo02 · #3 10-18-2007, 03:05 PM

Good info blank line guy! Honestly I think most owners wind up with a new steering rack assy before the inners wear out.

Were your tires wearing funny to prompt you to do an alignment? FWIW, I haven't done an alignment on my vehicles in about 20yrs.

Joel

____ · #4 10-18-2007, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rodeo02

Good info blank line guy! Honestly I think most owners wind up with a new steering rack assy before the inners wear out.

Were your tires wearing funny to prompt you to do an alignment? FWIW, I haven't done an alignment on my vehicles in about 20yrs.

Joel

Yeah, it was shaking at highway speeds and the front right tire had bare wire sticking out. Besides that I did a tie rod end on drivers side this summer and now the inner tie rod and tie rod end on pass side so with all of that crap I wanted an alignment before putting new tires on.

Why are people replacing the whole rack? Is there a common failure? Looks like it would be a PITA to get the whole rack out of this van.

I also got an alignment on my Saturn this year but then again that was after replacing the engine cradle, both ball joints, front wheel bearings, shocks, and tie rod ends.

It needed it BAD!

____ · #5 10-23-2007, 09:30 PM

bump

Why are people replacing the whole rack? Is there a common failure? Looks like it would be a PITA to get the whole rack out of this van.

12Ounce · #6 10-23-2007, 09:43 PM

There were a number of rack seal failures ... I had one on my '99. Don't know when it was corrected.

phil-l · #7 10-24-2007, 06:13 AM

Data point: At 95K miles, I've had no rack problems on my 2000.

Fran D · #8 10-25-2007, 05:02 PM

This was very interesting and timely, since I need to do the same thing to my '01 this weekend!

I did a little snooping on the Autozone website and I see that they have two tools to do the job. The one was the long socket, that you described, and the other was a crow's foot socket that attaches to the longer tool for those tie rods that don't have a full hex at the end. Didn't they offer you the other half of the tool?

Thanks for the write-up. It was very helpful.

____ · #9 10-25-2007, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fran D

This was very interesting and timely, since I need to do the same thing to my '01 this weekend!

I did a little snooping on the Autozone website and I see that they have two tools to do the job. The one was the long socket, that you described, and the other was a crow's foot socket that attaches to the longer tool for those tie rods that don't have a full hex at the end. Didn't they offer you the other half of the tool?

Thanks for the write-up. It was very helpful.

I personally looked at that other tool. It looked like a really crappy poorly cast half of a socket type thing. I didn't understand how it could be useful for changing this tie rod, maybe it is for a different vehicle/tierod? Not sure about that one but the other tool worked good for me!

Good luck this weekend.

tomj76 · #10 10-25-2007, 11:24 PM

FYI, I used an open end wrench to do mine. It's tight, and there's barely enough swing to get it on an off, but I managed it. I saw the tool, but @ $100 I decided to try something else. I've forgotten the size of the wrench... was it 1 5/16?

A good crows-foot would have been perfect, but I didn't find one.

MrCreosote · #11 10-29-2007, 10:43 PM

Any chance you could use a 3/4" drive socket (big enough drive to let rod pass through) and then a pipe wrench on the OD of the socket?

Anyone try welding a piece of pipe on the socket to make a tool?

tripletdaddy · #12 10-30-2007, 04:24 AM

I like some of the most recent suggestions, that might come in handy at some point, but I've always managed to squeez in an open end or and adjustable in there even on the really tightly packed in early Escort. At this point, I don't see the need to use a socket for a wrench to turn what a wrench can already turn on its own. Unless, there is an alignment problem. I saw an alignment tech change the same inner tie ride on my escort with the special hollowed open long shafted socket like zing!!! It was a thing to behold! I have some to change on my taurus and windy. I'll see what AZ or AA can loan me.

Dadvw · #13 10-30-2007, 05:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ____

bump

Why are people replacing the whole rack? Is there a common failure? Looks like it would be a PITA to get the whole rack out of this van.

Yes, I had my 99 done earlier this year in May. Had seal problems. Cost me about $650.00 to have the dealer do it with tie rod ends replaced too.

____ · #14 10-30-2007, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrCreosote

Any chance you could use a 3/4" drive socket (big enough drive to let rod pass through) and then a pipe wrench on the OD of the socket?

Anyone try welding a piece of pipe on the socket to make a tool?

I have done things like that in the past and considered it here but I didn't have a 1-5/8" socket in my junk collection (or my good tools). I can't explain how handy torches and a welder are when working on cars. Being able to "customize" tools has saved me a lot of time on various projects. I keep a supply of less than desirable tools under my workbench for just that purpose.

wintonboy · #15 10-30-2007, 12:32 PM

I have a retired auto mechanic living on both sides of my place. One of them is old enough to remember working on Model A's!!!. Anyhow, I needed to change my inner tie rod end, and each of them offered the use of that special wrench. I looked at the wrench, and the Windstar's underside, and took it down the street to my favorite shop. They charged me $60 to change the rod ends, inner and outer, and the outer on the other side and align the front end. Money well spent.

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