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View Full Version : Replacing Outer Tie Rod Ends (civic)



riruiz_88
13-06-2009, 01:22 PM
Disclaimer: The following is provided as a GUIDE ONLY, and neither myself nor Ozhonda take any responsibility for the outcomes of someone else doing the following. You follow these steps at your own risk!

Aim:
Tie rod ends are what are going to help keep your toe settings. once the ball joint is torn/shot it will increase the amount the tyre wobbles, which will give you poor steering feel and increased tyre wear.

This is one way of eliminating that shaky/wobbly feeling in the steering. we will remove the busted tie rods with new aftermarket, the brand i used was Protex. lets get started then ey....

Required:
*17mm socket/spanner
*19 & 22mm spanner
*BFH (big farkn hammer) or ball joint separator
*Tape measure
*Tape
*Pliers

You should also have a pickle fork, would make it much easier rather than smashin away at the ball joint thread.

Steps:
Firstly jack up the car and support the car with jack stands on each side on the front of the car VERY IMPORTANT!!!
once secured by jack stands remove the jack and remove the 2 front wheels.

Grab your tape and roughly tape where the locking nut ends on the shaft. Try and be very precise doing this cause this is how you adjust toe. This is done so when you come to tighten the new tie rod on, you know roughly where it should be.
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t18/riruiz_88/DIY/DSC00357.jpg


Now look at where the ball joint sits on the knuckle. first you need to remove this cotter pin, you remove it by bending the pin straight and pulling it out with your pliers. now get your 17mm spanner/socket and remove the castle nut. Remember, Lefty-loosy.
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t18/riruiz_88/DIY/DSC00360.jpg


Now get your BFH/ball joint separator and hit the thread to force the ball joint out.
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t18/riruiz_88/DIY/DSC00361.jpg


Once ball joint is off, just move it to a side or hold it with one hand while the other is cleaning the surface where it sat with a rag. get it as clean as possible.
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t18/riruiz_88/DIY/DSC00367.jpg


Now just to be safe i measured the distance from the steering rack boot to the locking nut for the tie rod. again just to make sure i get it all back together as close as possible before removing all of this.
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t18/riruiz_88/DIY/DSC00362.jpg


Now to loosen the lock nut you use your 19 & 22mm spanners. place the 22mm spanner on the locking nut & the 19mm on the end of the tie rod. the tie rod has some flat spots to hold it secure. with the 22mm spanner you want to turn it like as if you want to tighten it, remember Righty-tighty. effetively loosening the nut, not too much just enough to loosen the nut.
*IMPORTANT!!!*
if you try to loosen the locking nut like a normal thread you will make this job harder for your self.
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t18/riruiz_88/DIY/DSC00369.jpg


When you have cracked/loosened the locking nut, just simply turn the tie rod to remove it from its thread. support the steering shaft with the other hand.
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t18/riruiz_88/DIY/DSC00364.jpg


This is just showing how gone the old tie rod end was. new one is stiff.
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t18/riruiz_88/DIY/DSC00365.jpg


To install the new tie rod, reverse the steps you took to pull it out.

*Thread the start of the tie rod back into the steering shaft to where you place tape. also measure it again to make sure you get it as close as possible as before. and tighten lock nut into place.
*Put the ball joint back into the knuckle and thread on the castle/nylon lock nut back to roughly the same as before.
Now your ready to do it all over again to the other side.:thumbsup:

This is what it should look like when you are done.
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t18/riruiz_88/DIY/DSC00370.jpg

Much better than torn bits aint it.


Other comments:
Even if you think you place the tie rod back into the right spot, you wont have.
*IMPORTANT!!!*
You must take it to get a wheel alignment. just take it easy the next time you drive it.
And there you go all done. i my self thought it wouldnt be this easy to do tie rod ends. just saved my self a couple of hundred bucks i think woooop:cool:.

imratedpg
13-06-2009, 02:33 PM
good write up

riruiz_88
14-06-2009, 05:28 PM
thanks dude, hope this helps people try doin it them selves.

Civvie
17-06-2009, 11:06 PM
nice write up:thumbsup:

Where did you get the outer tie rod ends from and how much were they?

Bludger
18-06-2009, 04:13 AM
nice write up:thumbsup:

Where did you get the outer tie rod ends from and how much were they?x2



excellent write up.
very detailed, people should use this write up as a template.

as above, where and how much did you buy the new tierods?

riruiz_88
18-06-2009, 07:50 AM
my dad has an account with ATAP (Australian Truck & Auto Parts).
website: http://www.atap.com.au/protex.html

cost me $60 for both. but you could also probably get them from Super Cheap or the like. took me ages just to find some aftermarket ones, until i asked my dad if he could help :thumbsup:.

anymore Q's, ask away

fatboyz39
18-06-2009, 09:07 AM
Great write up!...Well done.