Inner Tie rod locking mechanism
I have done many inner tie rod ends, but never seen one that I could not understand what prevents the tie rod from spinning off.
Normally there is a locking washer with tabs that fit into the steering rack, then you torque the tie rod to spec, and bend the tabs over the flats to keep it from spinning off.
This one has a smooth ID with no tabs to grab the steering output, and the tabs are pre-bent over the flats of the tie rod. I wanted to understand the method by which this particular one works before installing.
… New one on me …inner ends always screwed ONTO the ends of the rack shaft ,,, not INTO…. I HAVE seen small PINS that were driven THRU the spin ON part to keep them from spinning OFF…. are you sure there is not a very small pin HOLE that would allow a keeper PIN to be driven INTO the rack (hollow) where that male thread set screws INTO (and thus LOCKING the two together) ??? … Dan H.
I took the time to unbend the tabs prior to removing the original inners, only to discover that I did not even have to do that. I guess these Honda's are just held on with threadlocker.
A lot of late model Fords there is no lock washer or pin. The inner tie rod end is supplied with a small tube of red threadlocker. inner tie rod end also screws into the rack shaft not over it Some Toyota products (Prius -Sienna) call for an entire rack replacement if the inner ends are worn out. It’s either replace the entire rack or source some inner ends online that are unbranded Chinese…
Couple years ago I had an inner tie rod that had ZERO wrench flats. Used this tool w/o issue : napaonline.com/en/p/SER946?ci…;
Have to apply a formula to the re-torqing with that offset.
If the tool is used 90° from the torque wrench handle, it should not change the setting,
If you look up “Steering Rack End Removal and Installation” in the service manual, it shows that once you have it installed correctly and tightened down, there is a specific place you stake the washer to lock it in place.
Those were great keywords that yielded exactly what I was after on Google. Thanks :)
What is the torque spec on the inner tie rod end to steering gear?
… “Gootentight”… {8^)~ … German virgin tight … just a little Dan humor … sorry … I never saw a spec listed … although I sure there is one somewhere … Dan … Hobbs .
… idFix list tie rod “nuts” and “lock nuts” as 40 lb ft and 32 lb ft respectively… although I think that is the ones you mess with for alignment (not end to rack attachment)… didn't find a listing on a quick search… sorry for the previous attempt at humor… Dan … Hobbs .
No problem. From the lack of information on these inner tie rod ends, I do not think they were meant to be replaced separately from the steering rack.
… I think you are probably right on that… I usually sell a “long rack” and avoid this problem all together… new bellows and gear … and a warranty … Dan … Hobbs.
… Found “Tie rod stud” at 40 lb. ft. … prolly still not the rod to rack end though… I'd go with “Gootentight” … L … Dan . Hobbs .
Well, buy definition stud refers to male threads and when referring to tie rod, the inner is the only component that fits that description. I would say 40 lb ft (aka Gootentight) would be the number I am looking for.