Pageant Hair Styles for Girls: Install A Lock Nut On A Tie Rod End

Friday, November 30, 2012

Install A Lock Nut On A Tie Rod End

A loose tie rod will cause your car's alignment to change over time, wearing out the tread on the tires and causing potentially dangerous misalignment problems that affect steering. If the tie rods on your vehicle do not have properly installed lock nuts, they will eventually loosen. It is best to install a lock nut on the tie rod early to avoid problems down the road.

Instructions

1. Jack up the vehicle and support it with the jack stand. Remove the wheel. Depending on the position of the tie rod (in front of or behind the steering knuckle), you can turn the steering wheel to create more room to work around the tie rod.

2. Remove the cotter pin and castellated nut if the lock nut is not on the tie rod end at all. If the lock nut is only loose, skip this step. Otherwise, separate the tie rod joint from the steering knuckle with the tie rod separator.

3. Measure the amount of thread between the outer and inner tie rod. Write the measurement down.

4. Remove the tie rod end by turning it. You can use the ball joint at the end as a handle, or place a wrench over the tie rod end. You might have to hold the inner tie rod with the crescent wrench.

5. Thread the lock nut onto the tie rod. The measurement from the inner end of the lock nut should match the measurement you wrote down.

6. Turn the outer tie rod back into the inner tie rod. When the lock nut meets the inner tie rod, stop. Make sure the ball joint at the end of the tie rod is facing the correct direction. If not, adjust the lock nut and tie rod until it does. Do not adjust the lock nut more than one turn.

7. Hold the outer tie rod in place with the crescent wrench and tighten the lock nut against the inner tie rod with another wrench.

8. Insert the tie rod ball joint through the steering knuckle and tighten down the castellated nut. It is best to replace the old cotter pin with a new one. Replace the wheel and tighten the lug nuts. Raise the vehicle off the jack stand, remove the jack stand, and lower the vehicle to the ground.