GM 26021769
Inner Tie Rod

Steering gear inner Tie Rod replacement requires removing both the Rack and Pinion Boot and breather tube. The maintenance professional needs to hold the rack throughout both inner Tie Rod removal and installation operations to avoid damage. Start by taking off the shock dampener from the inner Tie Rod assembly then reinstall it onto the rack. The removal process begins by placing a wrench on each flat surface of the rack assembly while another wrench secures the flats of the inner Tie Rod housing. Then rotate the inner Tie Rod housing counterclockwise until the assembly breaks free from the rack. When performing rack assembly use j 34028 (Inner Tie Rod Wrench) to move shock dampener forward onto rack. The inner Tie Rod assembly installation on the rack happens when you use j 34028 and a torque wrench to tighten the inner Tie Rod housing at 100 nm (74 ft. Lbs.) while keeping a wrench on the flats of the rack assembly. Position the inner Tie Rod assembly into a vise clamp before staking both sides of the inner Tie Rod assembly to the rack's flats. Check both inner Tie Rod housing stakes by placing a 0.25 mm gauge between rack and housing to ensure clean passing is impossible. Crank the shock dampener so the front lip touches the inner Tie Rod housing .

The replacement process of the inner Tie Rod (Magnasteer) requires breather tube and Rack and Pinion Boot removal. The rack needs continuous holding support during inner Tie Rod operations to prevent rack damage. First disconnect the shock dampener from the inner Tie Rod assembly so you can slide it onto the rack. To detach the inner Tie Rod assembly from the rack assembly position one wrench on the flats of the rack assembly while positioning a second wrench on the flats of the inner Tie Rod housing . Then turn the inner Tie Rod housing counterclockwise until it separates from the rack . Put the j 34028 inner Tie Rod wrench on flats of rack assembly before fitting the inner Tie Rod to rack by applying torque to 100 nm (74 ft. Lbs.) using a torque wrench on flats of inner Tie Rod housing. Install the inner Tie Rod assembly into a vise then use staking tools to secure both sides against the rack's flat surfaces. A 0.25 mm gauge should check both stakes to ensure the feeler gauge cannot insert between the rack and housing stake. Set the shock dampener over the inner Tie Rod housing and slide it until the shock's front lip touches the housing.

To replace the Rack And Pinion inner Tie Rod from the vehicle you are going to need the following tools: service boot clamp installer (J22610). Start by taking off the Rack And Pinion boot, as well as the breather tube, as you hold the rack to avoid damaging it when removing and installing the inner Tie Rod. Take off the shock dampener from the inner Tie Rod assembly and slide it back on the rack. To remove the inner Tie Rod assembly from the rack assembly, use a wrench to place against the flats of the rack assembly, while placing the wrench against the flats on its inner Tie Rod housing, rotate the inner Tie Rod housing in a counterclockwise direction until it can be separated from the rack. The rack is to be held and for assembly the shock dampener is slid forward up over the rack. Mount the inner Tie Rod onto the rack by placing a wrench on the flats of the rack assembly and a torque wrench on the flats of the inner Tie Rod housing, tightening it to 100 nm (74 ft. Lbs.),. Place the Piston and steering rack and the inner Tie Rod in a vise with the following conditions, the inner Tie Rod rocks freely in the housing until it is staked. Clamp both ends of the inner Tie Rod housing to the flats on the rack, striking one end with a hammer and a drift. Put a 0.25 mm feeler gauge between the Piston and steering rack and inner Tie Rod housing and slide it so that it cannot pass between Piston and steering rack and and inner Tie Rod housing stake. Finally, roll the shock dampener over the inner Tie Rod housing until the front lip of the shock dampener touches the inner Tie Rod housing .

The process of steering linkage inner Tie Rod replacement starts with steering gear extraction from the vehicle followed by inner Tie Rod inspection for contamination and rust after boot removal. Any detected contamination will require replacement of the steering gear. Seal the steering gear in a vise while avoiding adjustment of the preload settings before removing its two boots along with breathers. Secure the pipe wrench properly on the left inner Tie Rod housing while extracting the shock dampener which extends from the rack. Screw the pipe wrench onto the rack next to the left inner Tie Rod housing and attach a wrench to the flats of the same housing to turn it counterclockwise until the rack separates from the housing. The same procedure should be performed on the right inner Tie Rod housing. Professional installation of the left inner Tie Rod requires cleaning the threads first and removing previous loctite(R) then applying loctite(R) 262 to the threads before installation to the rack. A pipe wrench engaged with the rack alongside the j-34028 - inner Tie Rod wrench attached to a torque wrench enables left inner Tie Rod tightening to 100 nm (74 lb ft). Install the right inner Tie Rod after applying loctite(R) 262 to its threads then tighten it accordingly. An inspection of the fit should be conducted with a 0.25 mm gage to check the stakes on both sides of the female inner Tie Rod housings which get attached to the male rack. Reinstall the steering gear to its original position on the vehicle but only after applying both left and right shock dampeners across their appointed inner Tie Rod housing slots and attaching the steering gear boots and breather tubes.

Secure the piston and steering rack along with the inner tie rod in a vise, ensuring the inner tie rod rocks freely in the housing before staking.

Remove the rack and pinion boot and the breather tube.

Install the prevailing torque nut onto the outer tie rod assembly.

Use a pipe wrench on the rack near the inner tie rod housing and a wrench on the flats of the inner tie rod housing to rotate it counterclockwise until it separates from the rack.