To replace the outer tie rod on your Accord this tutorial was tailor-made for you. You will be asked to lift the vehicle, loosen the holding nut, remove the outer tie rod as well as carry out a few other steps. You can carry out this tutorial of 11 chapters in 45 minutes. Take your 24 mm wrench and your 17 mm wrench and let’s get started!
45 minutes
11
2
$60
Lift the vehicle
Turn your engine off and set the parking brake.
Loosen the stud bolts on the front wheels.
Lift the front of your vehicle. Place the vehicle on the jack stands.
Don’t forget to put the wheels under the vehicle!
Visualise
Turn the brake disc inward to make this operation easier.
You can now see the outer tie rod.
Set up
The components to be removed are very often seized up, so don’t hesitate to brush and to use penetrating oil to make removal easier.
With a marker, trace a line between the inner tie rod and the outer tie rod.
This will be useful later on during its assembly and disassembly.
Loosen the locknut
With a 24mm wrench, loosen the locknut on the outer tie rod.
Hold the inner tie rod with a 19mm wrench to prevent it from turning.
The locknut is there to prevent any rotation of the two parts towards each other which could have an impact on the wheel alignment of your vehicle.
Loosen the holding nut
Remove the cotter pin from the castellated nut of the outer tie rod with a screwdriver and pliers.
Using a wire brush, brush the castellated nut and spray it with penetrating oil.
Using a 17mm wrench, unscrew the outer tie rod holding nut.
Remove the outer tie rod
If you do not have a ball joint puller, a tool specifically designed for this task, take a hammer and hit the knuckle.
The ball joint should come out of the knuckle.
Unscrew the outer tie rod and remove it.
Measure
Use the markings made with the marker to return the locknut to its original position.
Then, measure the distance between the locknut and the end of the inner tie rod using a caliper.
In any case, a wheel alignment check will have to be carried out by a professional soon after having performed this operation.
Remove the locknut from the inner tie rod.
Put the outer tie rod back
Take the new outer tie rod and unscrew the locknut supplied with it.
Screw the locknut back on until the distance measured with the caliper is reached.
Put the outer tie rod back in place until it touches the locknut.
Use a 14mm wrench to rotate the inner tie rod in order to place the outer tie rod in the correct position.
Using a wire brush, scrub the knuckle, then apply silicone grease to the flat part that will be in contact with the sleeve of the outer tie rod. Do not grease the inside of the cone.
Put the outer tie rod back in place in the knuckle.
Put the castellated nut supplied with the new part in place and tighten it using a 17mm wrench.
Finish tightening using a torque wrench.
Finalise the tightening of the locknut
Take the cotter pin and fit it into the castle nut.
You can now bend the key.
Finish tightening the locknut using a 22mm wrench by holding the outer tie rod still with the help of a 19 mm wrench to avoid damaging the tie rod.
Put the vehicle back on the ground
Then, you will be able to put the wheels back on your vehicle.
Put the car back on the ground and block the wheels properly.
Safety tips
During this operation, you will work on the steering system of your vehicle. A professional alignment check should be performed to ensure that your steering system is once again perfectly adjusted and functioning.
Operation complete.