How to Replace Front Outer Tie Rod 11-14 Hyundai Sonata

Difficulty: Advanced · About 50 min · Hyundai Sonata

Replace the front outer tie rod on a 2011-2014 Hyundai Sonata.

Steps

1. Remove the wheel

   Raise the car with minimal weight on the tire, loosen the 21mm lug nuts with a breaker bar, raise and support it fully, then remove the lug nuts and wheel.

2. Remove the old outer tie rod

   Loosen the tie rod jam nut, remove the caliper's two 14mm slide bolts and hang it aside, remove the ball joint pin clip, remove the 17mm castle nut, hammer the knuckle's tab to loosen the tie rod (or use a pickle fork on the stud if you're replacing it), then remove the outer tie rod from the inner one, counting its turns to help with reinstallation.

3. Install the new outer tie rod

   Remove the castle nut from the new tie rod, thread it onto the inner tie rod the same number of turns you counted (or until it lines up with the knuckle), insert the ball joint stud into the knuckle, tighten the castle nut and torque it to about 32 ft-lb (tightening further if needed to expose the cotter pin hole), insert and bend over a new cotter pin, tighten the jam nut against the tie rod, then refit the caliper and torque its two 14mm slide bolts to about 16-23 ft-lb.

4. Reinstall the wheel

   Put it on the lugs, tighten the 21mm lug nuts by hand, lower the car with minimal weight on it, torque the lug nuts to about 80 ft-lb in a star pattern, then lower it completely.

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