getting ready for inspection lots of play in drivers side tie rod !

bronco · Post by **bronco** » 16 Apr 2021, 08:37

At first I thought it was the inner tie rod that needs to be replaced but upon further reflection the tie rod itself is ok . Play appears to be coming from where the tie rod enters the steering rack.

The tie rods were done by the previous owner I have the reciepts for them. Could it be he was too rough removing or installing the inner tie rod on that side? The rack isn't leaking it just has play in that one side.

The inspection station will fail it as tie rod issues most likely. Do I need to replace the rack or could he have left something out or something like that?

Its a 1998 V70 AWD , I have 2 1998 S70 FWd parts cars so I might be able to swap one in from a parts car .

Is it true there are 2 different racks TRW and SMI ? would I need the same one or are they interchangeable besides tie rod differences ?

It seems like it might be easier to order one considering the fact that the parts car would become immobile unless I switched the one I was removing from the V70 back into it

One of the cars is probably going this year anyway as I was going to pull the transmission from it anyway so as long as I could get it on my flatbed later I might not care if its unsteerable

Post by **misha** » 16 Apr 2021, 11:56

The part of tie rod which enters the steering rack IS inner tie rod.

The outer tie rod is the one by wheel.

Inner one bolts into steering rack...outer one on inner tie rod shaft.

bronco · Post by **bronco** » 16 Apr 2021, 12:05

misha wrote: 16 Apr 2021, 11:56 The part of tie rod which enters the steering rack IS inner tie rod.

The outer tie rod is the one by wheel.

Inner one bolts into steering rack...outer one on inner tie rod shaft.

It feels like the movement is not happening in the ball part of the inner tie rod but inboard of that point.

I guess I feel if the inner tie rod is sloppy its normally occurring at the ball due to wear.

I don't see how it can wear inboard of the ball ? Unless there is something wrong like its not threaded in all the way ? If it wasn't fully tight it can't really spin and back out .

Its been a while since ive done an inner on one of these but isn't there some plastic outer sleeve or something the inner rod screws into or maybe a flat washer with 2 tangs that goes there?

Post by **bmdubya1198** » 16 Apr 2021, 21:24

The inner tie rods are different between the TRW and SMI racks, and they are not compatible with each other. The outer tie rods are the same for either one, though.
The only play you could have beyond the ball joint on the inner tie rod would be either the rack itself, or the inner tie rod isn’t threaded down all the way. I usually install these with blue loctite.

Post by **MoVolvos** » 16 Apr 2021, 22:09

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https://www.youtube.com/results?search_ ... eplacement

You need to have someone shake down the offending side while you are at the other end. If you see the other side shaking it could be the gear in the rack. If not it's probably the ball and socket. Double check the rack mounting bolts also.

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bronco · Post by **bronco** » 17 Apr 2021, 11:06

bmdubya1198 wrote: 16 Apr 2021, 21:24 The inner tie rods are different between the TRW and SMI racks, and they are not compatible with each other. The outer tie rods are the same for either one, though.
The only play you could have beyond the ball joint on the inner tie rod would be either the rack itself, or the inner tie rod isn’t threaded down all the way. I usually install these with blue loctite.

the thread sizes for the 2 types of inner rod are different aren't they ? one is larger if I remember right so you can't screw the wrong one in it would be too big or flop around in the hole.

It could be not threaded in enough or possibly threads are damaged and its wiggling , yikes

bronco · Post by **bronco** » 17 Apr 2021, 11:10

MoVolvos wrote: 16 Apr 2021, 22:09 *

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_ ... eplacement

You need to have someone shake down the offending side while you are at the other end. If you see the other side shaking it could be the gear in the rack. If not it's probably the ball and socket. Double check the rack mounting bolts also.

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the rack bolts to the car itself being loose never occurred to me , I can check that easy enough , and at least rule it out , for that matter I can undo the outer rod from the steering knuckle and manipulate it around. Its usually prettty obvious if the inner rod's ball is junk then because the outer will flop around like a noodle with no resistance.

When this rain lets up I can get in there and look around a little better

Post by **bmdubya1198** » 17 Apr 2021, 11:57

Yes, the threaded portion is different. IIRC, you won’t be able to get the smaller one to catch in the larger one. Can’t remember which rack is which.

Post by **MoVolvos** » 17 Apr 2021, 23:26

bronco wrote: 17 Apr 2021, 11:10
MoVolvos wrote: 16 Apr 2021, 22:09 *

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_ ... eplacement

You need to have someone shake down the offending side while you are at the other end. If you see the other side shaking it could be the gear in the rack. If not it's probably the ball and socket. Double check the rack mounting bolts also.

*
the rack bolts to the car itself being loose never occurred to me , I can check that easy enough , and at least rule it out , for that matter I can undo the outer rod from the steering knuckle and manipulate it around. Its usually prettty obvious if the inner rod's ball is junk then because the outer will flop around like a noodle with no resistance.

When this rain lets up I can get in there and look around a little better

When I worked at Pep Boys in 1995 my brother brought his 93 850 (if that was the first year) over for a look. Had a noise the Dealer couldn't figure out. If I remember correctly it was a clamp that held the rack to the chassis. Regardless, it was broken on one side so made noise besides odd feel in the steering that is why I was thinking about the bolt.

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bronco · Post by **bronco** » 29 Apr 2021, 09:47

its taken a week to get to it but I finally got to it.

It appears that as the rod comes out of the drivers side of the rack there is a side to side floppiness or play to it. The boot is torn and the rod the inner tie rod screws into is fully exposed and when you move the tire by hand that rod wobbles. The further out it is the worse the wobble , so if the wheels are cut to the left its not so bad but cut to the right its worse.

Is there some internal support or bearing that can be worn? There is no fluid leak just that play in that part. There is no play in the passenger side of the box.

who knows how long the boot has been missing but exposure to the elements could be the cause or just normal wear i guess 150,000 miles on the car roughly