How to Replace Front Inner Tie Rod 06-10 Ford Explorer

Difficulty: Advanced · About 75 min · Ford Explorer

Replace the front inner tie rod, including the boot and outer tie rod, on a 2006-2010 Ford Explorer.

Steps

1. Remove the wheel

   Loosen the five lug nuts, then raise and support the truck and slide the wheel off.

2. Remove the outer tie rod

   Soak it in penetrant, loosen the 21mm jam nut, remove the 19mm ball-joint nut, strike the knuckle to break the stud free, pull the tie rod out, counting the turns as you twist it off, then lock the inner tie rod with pliers while marking and counting the turns to remove the jam nut too.

3. Remove the old tie rod boot

   Pull its outer clamp off with pliers, split the inner clamp with a hammer and punch or side cutters, then slide the boot off.

4. Remove the inner tie rod

   Loosen it from the steering rack with a pipe wrench, then twist it off by hand.

5. Install the new inner tie rod

   Apply thread lubricant to it, thread it onto the steering rack, tighten it with the pipe wrench, then remove the jam nut temporarily to fit the new boot.

6. Install the new boot

   Slide it onto the tie rod and seat it on the rack, loop the inner clamp around it and tighten with pliers, then tighten the outer clamp the same way.

7. Reinstall the outer tie rod

   Grease the outer tie rod and jam nut, thread the jam nut on, grease the inner tie rod too, thread the outer tie rod back on using the turn count you recorded, seat the stud in the knuckle, then torque the 22mm nut to about 52 ft-lb.

8. Reinstall the wheel

   Torque the lug nuts to about 100 ft-lb in a crossing pattern.

Check your vehicle’s repair manual for exact specifications and fit.