2004 Solara 4cyl inner tie rod advice/questions.

[udelslayer]

background:
2004 Solara, 135k miles. Its in pretty good shape, but has had an awful hum for the last thousands of miles. I did the left drift TSB a while back on my own (rotate the spring seat 2cm) and it did fix it for a while, but it never fixed the noise. I finally broke down and bought bearings and front axles. I bought the harbor freight tool used to pull them out and seat them and did that job. Now the wheels are quiet....but it came at a price. I think the vibration wore out the inner tie rod ball joint on the passenger side (the worse of the two front bearings). There is a steering clunk that you can here with the slightest actuation of the steering wheel. It appears to be the inner tie rod... . I suppose the bad bearing masked and caused the problem. It used to vibrate so bad, you could make your hand go numb....and now insert a joke about "the stranger" here...



questions:

If I buy the inner tie rod tool that fits over the rod, is this an effective way of replacing the rod without removing the steering rack? Has anyone done this? Is it bad to torque on the rack arms to take the rod out and is it hard to get the boot parts back on? I can do this all myself, but if its a hassle to fit stuff together, I might take this one to a shop that does it without steering rack removal.

This is the tool:
http://www.harborfreight.com/inner-t...set-96558.html

here are videos of its use on other cars:

You Tube

You Tube

You Tube

You Tube

Is this a diy or run away, very far away?
Do both sides if I go to the trouble for one?
Replace the outer tie rods while I'm at it?

fwiw, I hate the bearing tool. The cups it comes with are the only value. If you have a press, buy the bearing tool for use with it, that would work much better. It works in this form, but its a lot more work to twist the bolt for enough force to bring it out and you will end up removing the knuckle to use it properly.

http://www.harborfreight.com/fwd-fro...ers-66829.html

advice? anyone done this one?

thanks
J

[udelslayer]

and yes, i'll be going to get an alignment in either case.

[udelslayer]

Does the steering column "clunk" for 2004 camry/solara sound and feel like bad tie rods?

[Glenn8963]

there are at least 2 ways to check inner tie rods, but you need a bit of help of another person.

first, jack up the car just enough so that both front wheels are just slightly touching the ground. grab the wheel at the 9 and 3 o'clock position, and wiggle it back and forth. another person will have to get under the car and observe ANY movement of the entire tie rod section. if there is any "wiggle" then the INNER tie rod end is bad.

i would replace BOTH inner tie rod ends, so this will eliminate having to do the job a second time as well as paying for a second alignment.

the second way to check for a bad inner tie rod end, ESPECIALLY IF you feel or hear a clunking noise in the STEERING wheel, is to again, jack up the car, remove the wheels, then disconnect the LOWER tie rod ends, then once removed, try to lift up the inner tie rod end (from a straight position). if you feel a lot of resistance in the up then down motion of the tie rod section, then the inner tie rod end is toast. again, i would replace BOTH inner tie rod ends, then get an alignment.

the tool used for the inner tie rod end works. i have had one that was like a "tube" as well, and it had 2 different sizes (one at each end)..but i used to "turn wrenches" when i was younger, so for me, to buy several types was a necessity of my job. you should do fine with what you buy.

as far as "torquing" on the tie rod end..??

for gosh sakes, don't go "medieval" on it...just tighten it up, it cannot go no where's....it cannot un-screw itself.

the rubber "bellows" or boot, usually comes new with a tie rod end, but not always, as sometimes that is a separate purchase. i would buy a brand new pair of boots, as the original probably will have cracks in the sections. they are VERY easy to replace, once you go to re-assemble the tie rods. if possible, get the "nitrate" (blue colored) boots, they are of a thicker material and stand up well to the elements.

one more IMPORTANT thing you should know...

when you go to disassemble the inner tie rods, if you see ANY power steering fluid in the bellows..??

then REPLACE the steering rack...!!! do not even try to use "sealers or a thicker power steering fluid.

your car has a LOT of miles on the rack..a rebuilt one, or brand new will be the way to go....failure to replace a leaking steering rack now, will mean MORE MONEY later, and the doubling of costs later....