How-To: Tie Rods

[Lex2007]

I changed out both complete tie rods (inner and outer) with MOOG parts this weekend and took some pics for you crazy kids.

You'll need an immediate alignment after this, as this is where the actual alignment adjustment for TOE is made.

PARTS

Inner tie rod ends:

Moog EV800024 Steering Tie Rod End x 2

Outer tie rod ends:

Moog ES800026 Steering Tie Rod End x 1
Moog ES800025 Steering Tie Rod End x 1

If you haven't done it before, don't be scared. Its not at all hard. But you you will need at least one specialty tool (which is cheap at Harbor Freight) or rent for free at local parts chain if you want to tighten the new inner tie rods to spec; an inner Tie Rod Removal Tool.

Inner Tie Rod Removal Set

You can do without it but you'll be guessing on "final torque tightness". That's not so cool. You could use a crows's foot and torque wrench but that's gonna be a huge crow's foot and I don't know if they make them that big.

Mine is a Lisle brand but the same Chinese factory makes these and they re-box them for a dozen brands. Its a super simple and kinda junky tool frankly. Get the Harbor Freight Pittsburgh Brand...same crap, 1/2 the price with coupon.





If you do just the outer ends you wont need the above tool, but I think its stupid to waste your time on this project and only do the outers since the inner tie rods are cheap.

Yes the inners don't fail nearly as often, but just get it over with and move on. You'll never revisit this shit again.

My 2007 has 96k miles. My tie rods were actually still perfectly ok, but I'm hunting down a vibration in the front end and this could be a cause, plus I like my steering and front end tight tight tight.

PROCEDURE

1st jack up car, even if only onto front jack stands, take off the front wheels.

Release the small metal clip at the outside of the tie rod end plastic boot. (Sorry no pic)

Reach in and open up the metal band holding the rubber boot to the inner tie rod end (see the boot, and sway bar and the totally overrated Whiteline anti-lift bushings and the screwdriver prying open the metal band?):



Now decouple the outer tie rod end from the hub. OEM is a 14 mm bolt with cotter pin. Moog uses 15 mm. Straighten and take out the cotter pin with pliers and remove the nut. (I used an impact wrench, hopefully with hand tools the end will not spin around in place).



You can use a sledge to smack on the hub until the outer end falls out. Don't be shy. Smack it. It works like a champ.



...or you can use a tie rod end or ball joint tool to push it out. See it pushed out and dangling?:



Next, pull the boot towards you to expose the base/joint of the inner tie rod end where it screws into the steering rack. This is where you put your wrench to loosen the end. (Note: You're gonna reuse the boot. Treat it kindly.)



Now get a piece of paper and measuring tape and measure from the CENTER OF THE BOLT of the outer tie rod end to the part of the inner tie rod end that touches the steering rack.

Make sure its all straight when you make the measurement.

Write that shit down.

You're going to set the new tie rod end at the exact same total length when you put the two new halves together, so that you don't destroy your front tires driving to the alignment shop. The MOOG and OEM parts are not exactly the same configuration so you need the complete length from the rack to the center of the bolt on the outer tie rod end.

Dont measure from anywhere else.

GETTING THE TIE ROD OFF:

Now you have 3 choices. You can use one of these cheap tools to get the entire rod off.

http://www.amazon.com/Inner-Tie-Rod-Removal-Tool/dp/B00CEHS892/ref=sr_1_21?ie=UTF8&qid=1436890132&sr=8-21&keywords=tie+rod+end+remover

http://www.amazon.com/Inner-Tie-Rod-Removal-Tool/dp/B00CEHS892/ref=sr_1_21?ie=UTF8&qid=1436890132&sr=8-21&keywords=tie+rod+end+remover
http://www.amazon.com/Inner-Tie-Rod-Removal-Tool/dp/B00CEHS892/ref=sr_1_21?ie=UTF8&qid=1436890132&sr=8-21&keywords=tie+rod+end+remover

[MSMS3]

Thank you. The post of today should be a separate "How To" sticky. Well done.

[Lex2007]

Thanks hommie.

Who is in charge of creating stickies?

[monkey.bones.007]

@Raider; would create the sticky.

[Lex2007]

Thanks Raider

[Mauro_Penguin]

@Roddiy;

Time for us to get gay on your inner tie rod

[Gary-L]

This is a good write-up except for the part where the OP states "tighten to spec". It would have been a tremendous help if the torque specifications were included.

I have dug through the Mazda 3 repair manual that I downloaded, and there is nothing in there that I can find that specifies the torque values for the inner tie rod. The same is for the outer tie rod ends.

Meanwhile, my car is stuck on jack stands until I can resolve this mystery.

[Lex2007]

Dude the specs are in the parts explosion.

[turbskies]

Does anyone know if the Moog inner will work with oem outer?

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

[aviator79]

EDIT,
I thought this was MS6 how2 but it id MS3 which explains PNs.
Below PNs for MS6

/edit

IDK if part numbers changed but seems the OP numbers are now wrong.

Need:
Inner tie rod ends:

Moog EV800029 Steering Tie Rod End x 2

Outer tie rod ends:

Moog ES800027 Steering Tie Rod End x 1
Moog ES800028 Steering Tie Rod End x 1

[Jeff23spl]

is the op part numbers for a 6 or a 3 ?

[aviator79]

Originally Posted by Jeff23spl is the op part numbers for a 6 or a 3 ?

I see now OP post for MS3.
PNs I posted above for MS6.