OEM 2009 Ford Explorer Sport Trac Tie Rod

2009 Ford Explorer Sport Trac Tie Rod Parts Q&A

• Q: How to service and repair the inner tie rod on 2009 Ford Explorer Sport Trac?

  A: You should start fixing the inner tie rod after tire and wheel removal to separate the tie-rod end from the wheel knuckle using the C-Frame and Screw. Record the number of turns needed. The C-Frame and Screw tool must be employed to break the tie-rod end loose from the wheel knuckle until you obtain the number of turns needed for later reinstallation. You should next use Boot Clamp Pliers to remove and discard both outer and inner bellows boot clamps then keep these sets aside for future clamps. The steering gear bellows boot needs removal after center positioning the gear with an appropriately sized crowfoot wrench applied to the flat area of the rack gear while preventing damages to the inner tie rod. A right-hand side repair requires the assistant to pull back the left-hand inner tie-rod boot for steering gear stabilization. The new inner tie rod should be installed with a crowfoot wrench and tightened to 100 Nm (74 lb-ft). Steering gear grease should be applied to the inner tie rod boot's groove where it rests over the two-area housing bead and groove and undergoes vent tube insertion to the vent nipple. Place the steering gear bellows boot prior to applying a new inner bellows boot clamp with Boot Clamp Pliers and align the bellows end between the grooves on the tie rod to avoid internal leaks before installing the outer bellows boot clamp. After putting the tie-rod end jam nut on the inner tie rod, install the end but maintain the same number of turns recorded during removal then tighten the jam nut to 80 Nm (59 lb-ft). Mount the tie-rod end next to the wheel knuckle and secure a fresh tie-rod end nut by tightening it to 103 Nm (76 lb-ft). You should perform a final check followed by front end alignment if needed.