Tie Rod Boot: Service and Repair

NOTE: Perform the following procedure with the power steering gear removed from the vehicle. Refer to Power Steering Gear, Service and Repair, Removal And Installation for the procedure.

DISASSEMBLY
1. Remove the power steering gear from the vehicle. Refer to Power Steering Gear, Service and Repair, Removal And Installation for the procedure.






2. Loosen the inner to outer tie rod jam nut. Then, remove the outer tie rod from the inner tie rod.
3. Remove jam nut from inner tie rod.






4. Using pliers, expand the clamp securing the boot to the inner tie rod.






5. Using pliers expand boot snorkel to breather tube clamp and slide off boot snorkel. Leave the clamp on the breather tube.
6. Remove the clamp attaching the boot to the steering gear.

NOTE: After removing inner boot clamps. Use a very small screwdriver to lift boot from its retaining groove in steering gear. The boot can then be removed from steering gear.

7. Remove the boot from the power steering gear.

ASSEMBLY
1. Install tie rod boot on inner tie rod.
2. Align snorkel on tie rod boot with steering gear breather tube.
3. Install tie rod boot over lip on housing of steering gear and on the end of the breather tube.
4. Install the tie rod boot to breather tube snorkel clamp
5. Install new tie rod boot to steering gear clamp
6. Lubricate inner tie rod boot groove with silicone type lubricant. Then install the tie rod boot in the groove of the inner tie rod. (Clamp will have to be loosened for toe adjustment.)
7. Install inner to outer tie rod jam nut on inner tie rod.
8. Install outer tie rod on inner tie rod. Do not tighten jam nut at this time.
9. Install the steering gear back in the vehicle.
10. Make toe adjustment by turning inner tie rod. During this procedure do not allow the steering gear boot to become twisted. See Wheels, Tires and Alignment, Alignment.
11. Tighten the inner to outer tie rod jam nut to a torque of 75 Nm (55 ft. lbs.).