So i backed out of my garage to go to work this morning, and i heard a weird noise and couldn't turn my wheel completely to the left, only to the right. I thought maybe because it was sitting for a few days, but when i went up to the street light to make a u turn, i couldn't, i could only turn sharp enough to make a left into the next street. Anyways, i had to make a few right hand turns to get back home LOL! what's going on???
well i see the problem now. when i turn to the left, only 3/4 revolution it stops. i then move the steering wheel back and forth and I can see the tie rod connecting to the rack is way too loose, i can move it with my hand. where to go from here??? is there parts to rebuild this, or do i need a new steering rack?
well i see the problem now. when i turn to the left, only 3/4 revolution it stops. i then move the steering wheel back and forth and I can see the tie rod connecting to the rack is way too loose, i can move it with my hand. where to go from here??? is there parts to rebuild this, or do i need a new steering rack?
It sounds like your inner tie rod is shot from what you just said.
Has anyone changed an inner tie rod?? i just saw a video off youtube, looks pretty easy, just have to rent the 'tool' to remove the inner, and then take the car in for alignment. FS has just the inner and outer tie rod kit as a whole for the 88
Rodney sells them buy from him. It's a fairly easy job. Take out the spare tire tub so you can get a better angle on it. While you are doing it replace the steering rack bushing.
Rodney sells them buy from him. It's a fairly easy job. Take out the spare tire tub so you can get a better angle on it. While you are doing it replace the steering rack bushing.
i didn't think the spare tire tub could be taken out, are there bolts below the spare? like an access point? I'm not sure how to change the rack bushing
When you remove your spare, you will be able to see how the tub is attached. When you remove the tub lining, you can look near direct onto the steering rack.
Rodney Dickman also sells steering rack bushings; he actually sells everything you need to fix your car. I just checked his page and he has all the '88 specific components you need. The '88 specific parts are in sub-sections on his page.
Has anyone changed an inner tie rod?? i just saw a video off youtube, looks pretty easy, just have to rent the 'tool' to remove the inner, and then take the car in for alignment. FS has just the inner and outer tie rod kit as a whole for the 88
You don't use a Inner tie rod tool like on most newer racks, the rack has to be disassembled to remove the tie rod from the ends of the rack. I would suggest that you change both inner tie rods while you are at it. Check the outers for play as well.
You don't use a Inner tie rod tool like on most newer racks, the rack has to be disassembled to remove the tie rod from the ends of the rack. I would suggest that you change both inner tie rods while you are at it. Check the outers for play as well.
so the you're saying the entire rack has to be dropped out of the car and then i can take the inner tie rods out using the tool they supply?? or do i lift the car and there are disconnection points underneath. Here is the link to the video i'm referring to:
You don't use a Inner tie rod tool like on most newer racks, the rack has to be disassembled to remove the tie rod from the ends of the rack. I would suggest that you change both inner tie rods while you are at it. Check the outers for play as well.
Sorry, but this is totally inaccurate. The inner tie rods and the tie rod ends can be changed with the rack in the car. An inner tie rod tool can be used, but is not required.
Sorry, but this is totally inaccurate. The inner tie rods and the tie rod ends can be changed with the rack in the car. An inner tie rod tool can be used, but is not required.
It's not inaccurate. Here is a link showing what the Pontiac service manual says. And I didn't say you had to remove the rack from the car but it is easier that way. Plus you have to stake the new tie rod after it's tightened. I've never worked on a newer car rack that needed to have that done.
The work can be easily done with the rack in the car in under an hour. Remove outer tie rod ends Remove boots Remove inner tie rods (passenger side requires removal of damper assembly prior to boot removal) Reinstall inners and stake Reinstall boots (and damper) Reinstall outers
The work can be easily done with the rack in the car in under an hour. Remove outer tie rod ends Remove boots Remove inner tie rods (passenger side requires removal of damper assembly prior to boot removal) Reinstall inners and stake Reinstall boots (and damper) Reinstall outers
I have done lots of racks this way.
ok thanks, i'm waiting on parts from rodney dickman, hopefully i can get this done by the weekend. what do you mean by "stake" the inner tie rod?
"Staking" refers to using a punch and hammer to distort the threads on the inner tie rod where it attaches to the rack. The femal3 end of the inner is thin enough to distort with a punch and a solid hit with a big hammer. The process is shown in the link posted by TONY_C. Good luck with your repair.
When I did my 88 I just used a pipe wrench and the inner tie rods easily came off. As you rotate them the ends of the flats on the rack open up and reshape the thin steel area on the inner tie rods.
------------------ Rodney Dickman
Fiero Parts And Acc's Web Page: All new web page!:www.rodneydickman.com Rodney Dickman's Fiero accessories 7604 Treeview Drive Caledonia, WI 53108 Phone/Fax (262) 835-9575
When I did my 88 I just used a pipe wrench and the inner tie rods easily came off. As you rotate them the ends of the flats on the rack open up and reshape the thin steel area on the inner tie rods.
Thanks Rodney, i just got your parts today, everything looks good, thanks for the written instructions that'll help a lot.
OK, i got the outer off the control arm, and man that inner feels really weak, I can move it around with no problem, and worse its not even hand tight into the rack; i can turn it with my fingers. But i can only get the first clamp off the front of the boot, i can't for the life of me reach the rear one, that tab is like between the frame of the car and the inner arm. Its literally like 1/2" of clearance. how'd you guys do it??
have you taken out the spare tire tub? If you have, you will see that you have a lot of room to get to the rack. Here is a pic of my rack off the car. It may help to look at it like this. I also have a pic somewhere of the tub out, and you can see the rack.
If the four bolts holding the rack on are in good condition and don't look they will break if you remove them, just take the rack out and do it on the bench. It's how I have done it, twice. You can pull the rack out and grease it too that way.
finally got that clamp broken free and that boot was stuck on there good. Well, now i see why i couldn't turn left, that plastic white 'bushing' just inside the rack housing had fallen outside of the edging, binding up against the edge of the rack housing and keeping me from making a complete turn. if that makes sense, that bushing is about 70% left. I can't pull the entire rack out because my garage is so small, and my HOA will freak out if i decided to do this in the parking lot, so i'm stuck with snugging up against the drivers side wall and crawling out the passenger side with about 3ft of room to spare. by the way, yeah, i got most of that spare tire tub out and thats how i was able to access that back clamp. I can't break free of one of those sunroof glass holder tabs, so its like half ways out :/
[This message has been edited by 88White3.4GT (edited 08-10-2014).]
thanks for the help everyone. I finally got it fixed tonight, that brass bushing took awhile to get drilled and riveted in, it wouldn't slide on place so i had to sand the inside some for it to fit, but everything is put back together waiting to take it tomorrow for alignment.
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