Suspension & Brakes Springs | Shocks | Handling | Rotors

Replacing Inner Tie Rods and Ends

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 3, 2009 | 03:29 PM
  #1  
PIZDETS's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 187
Likes: 0
From: Tallinn, Google it
Default Replacing Inner Tie Rods and Ends

Ive been searching for a tutorial on replacing inner and outer tie rods, please link me some or just write it up if you got the time. I priced the install locally and they want a $100. Screw that i can do it myself and just have them align it afterward. thanks
Reply
Old Mar 3, 2009 | 06:54 PM
  #2  
Randy WS6's Avatar
TECH Addict
iTrader: (69)
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,755
Likes: 2
From: Baxter,KY.
Default

You don't have inner tie rods , you have a rackinpinion, you only have outer tie rods, that's if your changing on a f-body , Count the threads and install the new tie rods to the same count the have it lined
Reply
Old Mar 4, 2009 | 12:15 AM
  #3  
2002_Z28_Six_Speed's Avatar
TECH Veteran
iTrader: (19)
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 4,538
Likes: 1
From: Wash, DC
Default

You have inner tie rods.... Unless you plan on using magic to transmit the forces from the rack to the wheels.

They are easy to replace. You need to rent a tool from the parts store to change the inners. It looks like a long tube with a special opening on the end.

Replace both at the same time and use the best quality materials you can.

I rate this job to be pretty easy as long as you have a jack stands and basic hand tools.
Reply
Old Mar 4, 2009 | 07:49 AM
  #4  
Randy WS6's Avatar
TECH Addict
iTrader: (69)
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,755
Likes: 2
From: Baxter,KY.
Default

Well i never seen a rack with inner tie rods just outer ! A car with a steering box that has Pittman arm and center link and idler arm will have inner & outer tie rods (2) on each side ,With a rack unit you have a long rod coming out of the rack on each side of it with a tie rod on the end of it ,that's what i call a outer. Witch in real life there's no inner or outer tie rod on a rack just a tie rod. I call it a outer because i work on a lot of old style cars with a steering box . The tool you need is called a tuning fork or croses foot. I just use a hammer and smack once on the side of the tie rod arm or spindle arm and it drop right out.. or you can turn the nut to the top of the tie rod and hit it with a hammer and it will drip out but if you do the you cant reuse it because it might damage the threads but if your changing them out then it don't really matter
Reply
Old Mar 4, 2009 | 05:10 PM
  #5  
leadfoot4's Avatar
TECH Veteran
20 Year Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,621
Likes: 11
From: Webster, NY
Default

Originally Posted by Randy WS6
Well i never seen a rack with inner tie rods just outer ! A car with a steering box that has Pittman arm and center link and idler arm will have inner & outer tie rods (2) on each side ,With a rack unit you have a long rod coming out of the rack on each side of it with a tie rod on the end of it ,that's what i call a outer. Witch in real life there's no inner or outer tie rod on a rack just a tie rod. I call it a outer because i work on a lot of old style cars with a steering box . The tool you need is called a tuning fork or croses foot. I just use a hammer and smack once on the side of the tie rod arm or spindle arm and it drop right out.. or you can turn the nut to the top of the tie rod and hit it with a hammer and it will drip out but if you do the you cant reuse it because it might damage the threads but if your changing them out then it don't really matter
On an R&P setup, the "pieces" that connect to the spindles are the "tie rod ends". The "long rods that come out of the rack" that you talk about, are the INNER TIE RODS.

Don't believe me?? Look it up in a MOOG catalog!
Reply
Old Mar 4, 2009 | 06:08 PM
  #6  
Ironhead's Avatar
Launching!
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 294
Likes: 2
From: AR (PA born and fled)
Default

Originally Posted by Randy WS6
Well i never seen a rack with inner tie rods just outer !
You have now.

Moog EV260
Spicer / Raybestos 4011620B
AC Delco 45A2077
GM 88910652

You may also search this pdf using the old part number 21011026.

If you have access to the GM F-body parts PDF that has been around forever, you can also search it for part number 21011026.
Reply
Old Mar 4, 2009 | 07:46 PM
  #7  
PIZDETS's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 187
Likes: 0
From: Tallinn, Google it
Default

So i just need one special tool, so its pretty self-explanatory then. Cool, thanks fellas
Reply
Old Mar 4, 2009 | 07:55 PM
  #8  
spudnick3119's Avatar
TECH Apprentice
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 313
Likes: 5
From: Eastern PA
Default

Any reason why you don't replace the whole rack? I faced this problem a few months ago and the whole rack cost $120 which was about what 2 inner tie rods would cost. Its probably easier to replace the whole thing as well as its a pretty easy swap. Then you don't need special tools and you have a whole new rack. Just my opinion though.
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-1

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-4

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-8

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Five Reasons the Camaro Was the Most Pivotal Player in the Pony Car Wars 2.0

 Brett Foote
Old Mar 4, 2009 | 08:10 PM
  #9  
2002_Z28_Six_Speed's Avatar
TECH Veteran
iTrader: (19)
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 4,538
Likes: 1
From: Wash, DC
Default

Originally Posted by Randy WS6
Well i never seen a rack with inner tie rods just outer ! A car with a steering box that has Pittman arm and center link and idler arm will have inner & outer tie rods (2) on each side ,With a rack unit you have a long rod coming out of the rack on each side of it with a tie rod on the end of it ,that's what i call a outer. Witch in real life there's no inner or outer tie rod on a rack just a tie rod. I call it a outer because i work on a lot of old style cars with a steering box . The tool you need is called a tuning fork or croses foot. I just use a hammer and smack once on the side of the tie rod arm or spindle arm and it drop right out.. or you can turn the nut to the top of the tie rod and hit it with a hammer and it will drip out but if you do the you cant reuse it because it might damage the threads but if your changing them out then it don't really matter
I call it a pickle fork because it makes me hungry and I like pickles.

Originally Posted by PIZDETS
So i just need one special tool, so its pretty self-explanatory then. Cool, thanks fellas
You would need the tie rod tool and the pickle fork (ball joint separator).

Or just change the whole rack as previously mentioned...
Reply
Old Mar 4, 2009 | 10:06 PM
  #10  
Wesmanw02's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,369
Likes: 4
Default

If your rack & pinion has enough wear on it to warrant replacement of the inner tie rods, chances are its time for a completely new rack. I pulled the rack out of my Grand Prix at 172,000 miles and the inner tie rods and end seals were fine, the spool valve was leaking out of the bottom which was why I had to replace it.

The entire rack probably is probably only about twice as much as what it costs to buy 2 Moog inner tie rods, and its not hard to install at all on and F-body. And either way you're going to need an alignment, so I'd just get a complete rack.
Reply
Old Mar 5, 2009 | 07:28 AM
  #11  
Ryanmgaspard's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 605
Likes: 0
From: Pineville, LA
Default

Does the rack come with new inner tie rods? I am about to replace mine but my rack was replaced a year ago through Chevy.
Reply
Old Mar 5, 2009 | 02:02 PM
  #12  
Wesmanw02's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,369
Likes: 4
Default

Originally Posted by Ryanmgaspard
Does the rack come with new inner tie rods? I am about to replace mine but my rack was replaced a year ago through Chevy.
Yep, it comes with inners but not the outers. So if your outers are still in good condition you can just reuse those.
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:56 PM.

story-0
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-1
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-4
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-5
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-6
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE
story-9
Five Reasons the Camaro Was the Most Pivotal Player in the Pony Car Wars 2.0

The world was a better place when it was still around.

By Brett Foote | 2026-01-23 09:20:37


VIEW MORE