How to Repair Tie Rods on a 1996 Buick Century

The 1996 Buick Century came equipped with a "Rack and Pinion" style steering system. In the rack and pinion system, the wheels connect directly to the steering gear by outer tie-rod ends and inner tie-rod sockets. This system is compact, lightweight and durable, but like other steering linkage systems, will require replacement of the tie-rod ends when they wear out. The home mechanic can usually accomplish this project in an afternoon and the only special tools required are an inner tie-rod tool and a tie-rod separator.

Instructions

1

Secure the rear wheels of the Century by applying the parking brake and wedging wheel chocks against the rear tires. Raise and support the front of the car using a floor jack positioned under the center of the front subframe and jack stands placed under the sides of the subframe. Remove the wheel using a lug wrench.

2

Loosen the jam nut that secures the outer tie-rod to the inner tie-rod. Use a pair of wire cutters to straighten and remove the cotter pin that secures the castellated nut to the outer tie-rod end stud. Remove the castellated nut using an 18 mm wrench.

3

Slip a tie-rod separator onto the steering arm and over the tie-rod stud. Turn the center nut on the separator until it forces the stud from the steering arm. Unscrew the outer tie-rod from the inner tie-rod, counting the number of turns it takes to remove the outer tie-rod completely. Unscrew the tie-rod jamb nut.

4

Use pliers to pinch the spring clamp that secures the bellows boot to the inner tie-rod. Use a screwdriver the open the clamp that attaches the bellows boot to the rack and pinion unit. Slide the bellows boot off the tie-rod.

5

Slide the inner tie-rod tool adaptor over the nut on the inside end of the inner tie-rod socket. Slide the tie-rod tool onto the tie-rod and over the adapter. Rotate the tool using a ratchet wrench to unscrew the tie-rod socket from the rack and pinion unit. Remove the inner tie-rod.

6

Apply a dab of thread locking compound to the threads of the new tie-rod socket, and screw it onto the rack and pinion by hand. Tighten it securely with the inner tie-rod tool. Reinstall the bellows boot over the tie-rod.

7

Install the new outer tie-rod jamb nut into the inner tie-rod. Screw the new outer tie-rod end onto the inner tie-rod the same number of turns it took to unscrew the old one. Slide the tie-rod stud into the steering arm and reinstall the castellated nut. Torque the castellated nut to 40 foot-pounds using a torque wrench. Torque the jamb nut to 46 foot- pounds.

8

Install a new cotter pin into the castellated nut and bend the ends of the pin. Reinstall the wheel and torque the lug nuts to 100 foot-pounds. Lower the car and have a front-end alignment performed by a qualified auto repair shop to restore the toe angle to factory specifications.