Inner tie rod or steering rack (bushings) ???

jdumont · **Posted:** Tue Apr 08, 2008 7:15 pm

Finally got under the KJ today and had the GF turn the wheel a few inches either way with the engine off. Definitely can feel and hear a clunk on the drivers side inner tie rod seemingly where it connects to the steering rack or there abouts. I can def feel it the strongest when she turned the wheel and I held right up near the boot. Could also feel it a little on the passenger side but that may have just been transmitting through the rack.

I didnt have time to get the dust boot off to really get in there and do a visual today. My question is what do you think the likelihood of either failure is? I hear a clunking noise when i go over a bump while turning but not really when going straight. It feels a little tight on that side of the car when turning left and a little bit when turning right.

The history on this is I had to run over a decent size curb at around 7 mph to avoid someone hitting me after they went through a stop sign. Only the left front hit the curb though... hence why I start there.

Any help would be much appreciated....

In other news, I got the bike fired up today so I always will have that to get to work!!

jdumont · **Posted:** Tue Apr 08, 2008 7:47 pm

This may sound stupid but the inner tie rod is removable correct? I cant find it in the FSM yet...

Guest · **Posted:** Tue Apr 08, 2008 7:56 pm

Yes, and it's most likely an inner tie rod end that's making a clunk when turning the wheel. My rack bushings are shot (sure as heck isn't as responsive@the wheel as modular's 43k mile young KJ) and my tie rod ends are tight, and no clunk...and if your inner tie rod end CLUNKS, it's TRASHED, so replace it ASAP. Get an inner tie rod end tool...that will make the process 100x easier.

jdumont · **Posted:** Tue Apr 08, 2008 7:59 pm

Nice, thanks for the reply. How can I be sure its the inner tie rod clunking and not the rack bushing? Once I get the boot off Im sure ill see more so bear with me please.

Guest · **Posted:** Tue Apr 08, 2008 8:03 pm

if you're feeling the clunk near the boot on the tie rod, and the steering rack itself isn't moving, it can't be the rack. Plus, even if they're worn out, the steering rack bushings are rubber, so your chances of a clunk are slim to none.

jdumont · **Posted:** Tue Apr 08, 2008 8:10 pm

Ok, so the only real reason I would need to mess with the rack is if I open the boots and fluid pours out then you say? Even if the rack itself is moving it could be loose on the cradle perhaps (FSM shows two bolts holding it in i believe) ?

Is that inner boot just clamped on with a hose clamp of some sort?
Is the boot going to come off willingly or should I plan on ruining it to get it off?

Thanks for the help guys, keep it coming!

tonycrd · **Posted:** Wed Apr 09, 2008 7:44 am

Maybe this helps.

http://www.jeepkj.com/forum/showthread.php?t=35359

jdumont · **Posted:** Wed Apr 09, 2008 10:09 am

Thanks I think that did. So the inner end of the inner tie rod (@ the rack) actually has some type of threaded ball joint?

Josh

tonycrd · **Posted:** Wed Apr 09, 2008 11:12 am

Jep, you only cannot get that from the dealer, they only sell complete racks...for $$$$$$$$ :shock:

And if you have a closer look I think you can get the boot of without damaging it, if you brake the clamp just fit a tie-wrap.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Wed Apr 09, 2008 3:16 pm

jdumont wrote:

Thanks I think that did. So the inner end of the inner tie rod (@ the rack) actually has some type of threaded ball joint?

Josh

Thats what it looks like from the pictures. I would like to tear into that someday and see how those go in there.

jdumont · **Posted:** Wed Apr 09, 2008 6:03 pm

Ok well that makes sense now. I thought the inner tie rod threaded right into something in the rack, I didnt know there was another ball joint of sorts there. So the next question is how the hell do I remove it.... Something tells me that Jeep doesnt sell it singularly for a reason....

Thanks again!
Josh

Guest · **Posted:** Wed Apr 09, 2008 7:50 pm

jdumont wrote:

Ok well that makes sense now. I thought the inner tie rod threaded right into something in the rack, I didnt know there was another ball joint of sorts there. So the next question is how the hell do I remove it.... Something tells me that Jeep doesnt sell it singularly for a reason....

Thanks again!
Josh

the inner tie rod end does indeed thread into the rack, and is available separately from almost any parts store in the US

dirtykj · **Posted:** Thu Apr 10, 2008 1:28 pm

ThunderbirdJunkie wrote:

jdumont wrote:

Ok well that makes sense now. I thought the inner tie rod threaded right into something in the rack, I didnt know there was another ball joint of sorts there. So the next question is how the hell do I remove it.... Something tells me that Jeep doesnt sell it singularly for a reason....

Thanks again!
Josh

the inner tie rod end does indeed thread into the rack, and is available separately from almost any parts store in the US

Do you have part number(s) for this? My dealer told me it's only available as part of a complete rack, of course they have incentive to say so

tommudd · **Posted:** Thu Apr 10, 2008 2:07 pm

dirtykj wrote:

ThunderbirdJunkie wrote:

jdumont wrote:

Ok well that makes sense now. I thought the inner tie rod threaded right into something in the rack, I didnt know there was another ball joint of sorts there. So the next question is how the hell do I remove it.... Something tells me that Jeep doesnt sell it singularly for a reason....

Thanks again!
Josh

the inner tie rod end does indeed thread into the rack, and is available separately from almost any parts store in the US

Do you have part number(s) for this? My dealer told me it's only available as part of a complete rack, of course they have incentive to say so

Moog outer tie rod ES 3536
Moog inner tie rod EV402

or at least thats what I have in stock in my garage, already waiting for when I need them. :wink:

jdumont · **Posted:** Thu Apr 10, 2008 6:27 pm

***BAD NEWS UPDATE***

Just got under there and took the boot off. Then had the GF turn the wheel back and forth and the part that is making all the noise is the long rack gear shaft jumping around in the hole that it disappears into. Seems like there should be a bearing/bushing right there but there is nothing no any sign there ever was.... any clues??????? The actual ball joint of the inner tie rod looked fine, no movement.

Gotta be the rack/rack bushing right?

Guest · **Posted:** Thu Apr 10, 2008 7:55 pm

jdumont, that IS the inner tie rod end. it's a ball-and-socket. looks like this, and the end threads into the rack

jdumont · **Posted:** Thu Apr 10, 2008 8:08 pm

Yup I got that much figured out. However, it was after the threaded ball joint end more towards the middle of the car. The inside of the inner tie rod where the ball joint is was fine. Then it connects to the rack gear and if I looked along that rack gear towards the steering gear box it was the rack shaft itself that was knocking. I really think there was supposed to be a bushing or something there by the looks of it.

I turned the wheel all the way left and that exposed a lot of the rack gear, that made it easy to see.

Ill post pics tomorrow night hopefully if its not raining again.

jdumont · **Posted:** Thu Apr 10, 2008 9:00 pm

Is this something that the inner tie rod would go through or is it used to mount the rack to the Jeep?

http://www.racepages.com/parts/steering_rack/jeep.html

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Thu Apr 10, 2008 9:10 pm

jdumont wrote:

Is this something that the inner tie rod would go through or is it used to mount the rack to the Jeep?

http://www.racepages.com/parts/steering_rack/jeep.html

Those are the rack mount bushings,a real pain to replace for a cheap part.

jdumont · **Posted:** Fri Apr 11, 2008 4:24 am

Ok so then those are used to mount the entire steering rack assy to the vehicle? Finally got uploads from my phone working.... here is what im talking about. The red arrow is pointing at the rack gear shaft. That is what is banging making the noise on the housing of the steering gear assy. The yellow arrow is where I thought there should be some type of bushing or something... Any clues. I may start a new post on this cause my original one is old and not interesting anymore.

Here is a shot of the inner side of the inner tie rod. Everything looks good to me here...

Inner tie rod or steering rack (bushings) ???

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