Tie Rod: Service and Repair

REMOVAL
1. Remove steering gear.
2. Install two long bolts and washers through the bushings and retain power rack and pinion steering gear to Bench Mounted Holding Fixture T57L-500-B.
3. Loosen the jam nuts on the outer ends of the front wheel spindle tie rods adjacent to the tie rod ends and remove the tie rod ends and jam nuts.

CAUTION: Use care not to damage the tie rod bellows as internal damage to rack may result.

4. Remove the four clamps retaining the tie rod bellows to the steering gear housing and the tie rod ends. Discard the clamps if damaged or excessively corroded.
5. Remove the tie rod bellows along with the power steering gear rack tube.

NOTE: Some power rack and pinion steering gear assemblies may contain one or two rack travel restrictors on each side of the power rack and pinion steering gear. The restrictors are split nylon washers and, if required, can easily be removed from the power rack and pinion steering gear following tie rod removal. Restrictors may be reused unless heavily worn.

6. Position power rack and pinion steering gear so several rack teeth are exposed. Hold power rack and pinion steering gear with an adjustable wrench on the end teeth only, while loosening front wheel spindle tie rod nuts with nut wrench.

INSTALLATION
1. Turn power rack and pinion steering gear against or near LH stop and hold rack with adjustable wrench nearest the rack end. Tighten each front wheel spindle tie rod separately to 90-110 Nm (67-81 ft. lbs.).
2. Install tie rod bellows and power steering gear rack tube. Install clamps retaining the front suspension steering ball stud dust seals to the steering gear housing and tighten to 2-3 Nm (18-27 inch lbs.).
3. Install new clamps retaining tie rod bellows to front wheel spindle tie rods.
4. Install the jam nuts on the front wheel spindle tie rods.
5. Apply Silicone Brake Caliper Grease and Dielectric Compound D7AZ-19A331-A or equivalent meeting Ford specification ESE-M1C171-1 to tie rod threads.
6. Install tie rod ends on the front wheel spindle tie rods.