1999 Ford Escort Tie Rod Replacement Procedure

The 1999 Ford Escorts steering system uses a series of linkages to move the front wheels to the left and right. An integral part of this system are the two tie rod ends -- inner and outer -- which transfer the movement of the steering rack to the steering knuckles. Over time, the ball-and-socket parts of these tie rod ends start to wear out, allowing the wheels to shake lightly, which can result in steering wheel vibrations or tire wear, depending on the severity of the wear. Replacing them is a straightforward task, but you must visit a repair shop afterward to have an alignment performed.

Instructions

Removing the Outer Tie Rod End

1

Loosen the lug nuts on the wheel with the failed tie rod end, using a ratchet and socket. Raise the front of the Escort with a floor jack and slide jack stands beneath the vehicles frame rails. Lower the vehicle onto the jack stands. Remove the lug nuts and pull the wheels from the front hubs.

2

Turn the ignition to the Run position but do not start it. If you are removing the passengers side tie rod, turn the steering wheel to the left until you hit the lock. If you are replacing the drivers side tie rod, turn the wheel to the right until you hit the lock. Turn the ignition to the Off position.

3

Pull the cotter pin from the outer tie rod end stud with needle-nose pliers and discard it. Remove the tie rod ends castellated nut with a ratchet and socket. Position a tie rod end separator so that its screw part touches the end of the outer tie rod end stud and the fixed part touches the steering knuckle, just below the head of the outer tie rod end. Tighten the tie rod end separator with a ratchet and socket until the tie rod end pops from the steering knuckle.

4

Loosen the outer tie rod end jam nut -- the nut on the inner tie rod end that holds outward pressure on the outer tie rod end -- using a combination wrench. If needed, hold the inner tie rod end still by holding a combination wrench on the flats of the inner tie rod end.

5

Unscrew the outer tie rod end from the inner tie rod end by hand; count the number of turns it takes to remove it. Counting the number of turns helps you estimate the correct positioning of the outer tie rod end on the inner tie rod end upon reinstallation.

Installing the Outer Tie Rod End

6

Twist the outer tie rod end onto the inner tie rod end the same number of turns you performed when removing it.

7

Turn the outer tie rod end jam nut until it contacts the outer tie rod end. Torque the jam nut to between 25 and 37 foot-pounds with a torque wrench and crows foot attachment.

8

Slide the tie rod end stud into its hole near the top of the steering knuckle. Thread a new castellated nut, included with the new tie rod end, onto the tie rod end stud. Tighten the castellated nut to between 32 and 41 foot-pounds with a torque wrench and socket.

9

Check that a valley on the castellated nut aligns with the hole through the tie rod end stud. If they do not line up, slightly tighten the nut until they do. Never loosen the nut to achieve this alignment. Slide a new cotter pin, included with the new ball joint, through the hole in the tie rod end stud and bend its legs in opposite directions with needle-nose pliers to lock it into place.

10

Set the wheel on the front hub and hand-tighten the lug nuts. Raise the vehicle off the jack stands with a floor jack and remove the jack stands. Lower the Escort to the ground. Tighten the lug nuts, in a crisscross pattern, to between 66 and 87 foot-pounds on steel wheels or between 74 and 100 foot-pounds on alloy wheels.

Removing Inner Tie Rod End

11

Follow steps 1 through 5 in the section titled Removing the Outer Tie Rod End.

12

Loosen the outer tie rod end jam nut until its free from the inner tie rod end.

13

Find the rack bellow -- the flexible, accordion-style boot on the inner part of the inner tie rod end -- and remove its outer clamp by squeezing its ears with slip-joint pliers and pulling it from the bellow and off the tie rod end. Repeat this step to remove the bellow's innermost clip, the one closest to the steering rack.

14

Pull the rack bellow outward to disengage it from the groove in the rack and inner tie rod end, and pull it off the inner tie rod end. Inspect the bellow for any defects, such as cracks, splits or brittleness. Replace the bellow with a new one if defects exist.

15

Hold the flats on the steering rack output still with a combination wrench and remove the inner tie rod end with a second combination wrench. You can substitute the second combination wrench with an inner tie rod end socket and ratchet, if available.

Installing Inner Tie Rod End

16

Thread the inner tie rod end into the steering rack by hand. Hold the flats on the steering rack output still with a combination wrench as you tighten the inner tie rod end to between 49 and 50 foot-pounds with a torque wrench and crows foot attachment. If available, you can also use an inner tie rod end socket and torque wrench to tighten the inner tie rod end.

17

Slide the rack bellow onto the inner tie rod end until the larger part of the bellow contacts the steering rack. Press the larger part of the bellow on to the steering rack until it seats in the groove on the steering rack.

18

Press the smaller part of the bellow inward on the inner tie rod end until it seats in the groove on the inner tie rod end. Reinstall the two clamps on the bellow with slip-joint pliers.

19

Apply a thin coat of silicone grease meeting Ford specification ESE-M1C171-A onto the threads on the end of the inner tie rod end. Thread a new jam nut, included with the inner tie rod end, onto the threads on the end of the tie rod end.

20

Follow steps 1 through 5 in the section titled Installing the Outer Tie Rod End.

21

Take the Escort to an automotive repair shop to have a professional alignment performed.