Removal and Installation

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2010 Mercury Milan, 2010 Lincoln MKZ, and 2010 Ford Fusion. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

NOTE: When servicing inner tie rods, a new bellows boot and clamps must be installed or a leak may occur causing steering gear damage.

Remove the steering gear. For additional information, refer to Removal , Removal , Removal and Installation or Removal .
Loosen the tie-rod jam nut and remove the outer tie-rod end.
- To install, tighten to 80 Nm (59 lb-ft).
NOTE: Position the steering gear in a soft-jaw vise or damage to the steering gear may occur.
If servicing the RH inner tie rod, remove the LH inner bellows boot clamp and slide the bellows boot away from the steering gear housing.
NOTE: It will be necessary to partially remove the LH bellows boot to hold the rack piston when servicing the RH inner tie rod.
- Discard the clamp.
Remove and discard the 2 bellows boot clamps and the bellows boot for the inner tie rod being serviced.
On Hydraulic Power Assist Steering (HPAS) steering gears, bend back the crimped edges of the retaining washer.
Using a suitable wrench, hold the piston shaft.
NOTE: The steering gear rack piston must be held while loosening or tightening the inner tie rod or damage to the steering gear may occur.
Using a suitable wrench, remove the inner tie-rod end.
- To install, tighten to 103 Nm (76 lb-ft).
To install, reverse the removal procedure.
- When installing, apply grease to the bellows boot-to-steering gear mating surfaces.
- Make sure that the steering gear is in the centered position prior to installing the steering gear.
NOTE: When installing the bellows boot(s), grease must be applied to the bellows boot-to-steering gear housing mating surfaces or a leak may occur causing steering gear damage.

NOTE: On HPAS steering gears, the inner tie-rod retaining washer must be crimped after the inner tie rod has been tightened.