How do you change a tie rod end (front pass side) in a 2001 Ford Taurus. Does anyone have a diagram they can email me?? If a tie rod is busted, were does it usually break. Do the inner and outter tie rods both need to be replaced?Tie Rod End Ford Taurus?
Get yourself a Haynes or Chilton manual and it will give step by step instructions with pictures. It is not that difficult.
As the other answer, it will need alignment, but just drive slowly to where you are getting that done.Tie Rod End Ford Taurus?
This is not a job that you can do yourself. Since after the tie rod end is replaced you still need to get a wheel alignment. There was a time in the past when people always drove slowly on the highway. Like around 45 mph tops. But these days with the higher speeds, it becomes critical that your car has the very best wheel alignment as possible. They use lasers w/computers now.Tie Rod End Ford Taurus?
Here's the procedure for up to 1995. I doubt it 's changed much.
http://www.autozone.com/az/cds/en_us/090
Here's a pic of the outter tie rod.
http://www.autozone.com/images/products/
This is a pic of the inner tie rod.
http://www.autozone.com/images/products/
The outter is the one that goes bad more often, is easier to change, and can be changed separately. It usually goes bad at the corner where the 2 parts come together. (gets loose, or comes out altogether) It's basically kind of like a shoulder joint.
Besides the normal routine tools, you would need an appropriately sized pickle fork to remove the stud from the steering knuckle, and if you are not familiar with torque, it would be best to use a special wrench for that. The main things you have to be careful about is to tighten them properly at both connections, and to tighten the jam nut so the joint doesn't bind when you turn. (the joint needs to be in the midpoint of it's swivel range when you tighten the jamnut, with the wheels facing forward) The instructions also forgot to mention you should install the grease fitting, and grease the joint before you finish. And you should have the front end aligned ASAP.
If you ever move to Minneapolis, let me know. ;-)
