opinions on inner tie rod prob...please

[97splorer]

Alright, here is the situation...I have this shimmy in the front end when I turn the steering wheel back and fourth while at a dead stop. The steering also seems to shudder while going at slow speeds with the wheels turned.

I have already replaced the upper and lower ball joints, and both outer tie rod ends. This has not solved the problem. I grabbed ahold of the inner tie rod end (drivers side) and tried to shake it, and it has some movement. The passenger side seems to have a very small amount of movement when I shake it, but not all the time. Does this obviously mean my inner tie rods are shot, and would that make the shudder that I feel while turning?

Any help or opinions would help a lot.

 

[Bronco638]

When you say "shimmy" do you feel it thru the steering wheel or does the entire truck shake? Based on your first post, it could be a steering rack or power steering pump.

 

[JasonF]

I have a dry inner tie rod end on my 96. At first I thought it was the outers. While I was replacing those, I could move the tie rod linkage around and that's when i noticed the inner one was stiff. It was tight, but it takes a lot of force to move it from one position to another. When steering, I believe that explains the popping/thumping noise that I hear and feel through the steering wheel.

Anyone know how hard it is to replace it? I'm not even sure how to get the rubber boot off of it.

Jason

 

[Jefe]

I would suspect your inner tie rods first. . . while they're off you can check for play in the rack.

Anyone know how hard it is to replace it? I'm not even sure how to get the rubber boot off of it.

To remove the inner tie rods, steer the vehicle one way, put up on jack stands, cut the inner steel band, pop the boot off, spin the tie-rod off the rack with a pipe wrench, disconnect inner from outer, replace, then steer the other way to do the other side. I replaced the steel bands with large wire ties. Took me a couple hours to do both sides my first time.