Leaking tie rod

[hxdude]

While changing the oil today I noticed that the inner tie rod is leaking out grease. So I'm guessing the fix would be to replace the inner/outer tie rod along with the boot? Anything else should be done? I was thinking about getting this >> http://www.ebay.com/itm/251113956866?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT Thanks

 

[Kenneth]

Most likely cause, would be the seal leaking on the rack. Hope not, but there's not much grease in that little ball joint. Just looking at the picture, it looks like ps fluid, is it loosing any fluid? Have you checked for play in the tie rod?

 

[civexspeedy]

Hard to tell by the pic what's going on. Is the boot torn or cracked anywhere ?

 

[Osiris19]

If its just grease, it may be the tie rod socket grease because there's fluid in the rack, so if you had power steering fluid leaking out of the boot, the rack seal would be the cause. The boot may have torn causing the grease to leak or the clamp failed. Pull the boot off and inspect for damage. Mine does the same thing.

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[hxdude]

Yea boot end is torn. I don't seem to be losing any power steering fluid. The fluid level has never dropped. I'll get a better picture omorrow. There is a lot of play on the outer tie rod and ball joint seems to be ripped too. Thanks

 

[Osiris19]

Could be socket being loose. Lift the car up and pinch the boot where the socket is, and push on the bottom of the tire outward and then pull it inward. You should feel the play

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[Kenneth]

Sounds like you need some exploratory surgery. Gonna have to replace the boot at the least. I'd pick up an inner and outer tie rod with a new boot. When you get it apart the mystery will be solved. If it does need a rack, you'll at least have time to make plans to get the best deal on a replacement. You can re use the new tie rods, if your careful. Just my $.02

 

[hxdude]

Ok today I took some close up pics from both sides, driver and passenger.

Driver side.



Passenger side.

 

[Kenneth]

Easy fix, as long as it's not the rack. Better get on it though. Looks like your already on borrowed time. If you get into that, and find out it's a seal, skip the loctite, and re use the tie rods on the new rack. My $.02

 

[Osiris19]

Pull the boots. Clean all the grease off. Inspect the rack end seals for leakage. If all is well, inspect tie rod sockets for play. If good, replace boots

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[jameswanser]

looks like you took pics of MY car's tie rods. Have a similar issue with mine, so looks like that's next on my list as well

 

[hxdude]

UPDATE:

Today I opened it up and it looks like this

 

[Osiris19]

Try to move the tire rods around in their sockets. If they move easily, theyre worn.

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[hxdude]

HELP!!

I installed the new inner/outer tie rods and now the wheels looked crooked and the car doesn't want to move!! When I put the handbrake down the car moves very little and then stops. I did count the threads on the old inner tie rods and matched up with the new ones. I did move the steering wheel left to right while aligning the tie rods and also to get a better clearance. Did I mess up something in the steering rack? I have to give the car a lot of gas for it to move. It doesn't move freely like before.

 

[Kenneth]

Hard to tell without pictures. But if the new part, is a different brand, the thread count is useless. Anyway, you'll need to get the wheels straight with the rears. There's several ways to get it close. It's not hard, or complicated, you can do this. YouTube has several videos, they all use similar methods. Just make sure to have the steering wheel centered, and the wheels have to be on the ground.

 

[hxdude]

ok thanks I'll try to make the wheels straight tomorrow. So the crooked wheels is preventing the car from moving freely? My driveway has an incline and before whenever I used to put the handbrake down, the car would start going backwards. But now it doesn't even move without me giving it some gas.

 

[hxdude]

Okay I got it about 90% fixed. I adjusted both sides and made sure the wheels looks straight. Drove it around and my steering wheels is tilted to the left a little bit while going straight. Which side needs more adjustment?

 

[Kenneth]

Only way to be certain, is a professional toe adjustment, with a machine. That being said, I'd straighten the steering wheel, and go for the other ten percent, till she runs straight. But an alignment with a readout, would be the proper method.

 

[Osiris19]

Hold up. Before you go messing with your toe and alignment. Did you center the steering wheel? Unbolt the coupler at the rack where the steering column attaches and rotate the wheel till its straight and attach the coupler back to the rack. Verify the wheels are straight and the steering wheel is straight.

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[hxdude]

Okay no I didn't mess with the coupler. When I make the steering wheel straight, the passenger side wheel sticks out pointing to the right about 3-5mm. The driver side wheel looks straight.