2000 Ford Windstar INNER TIE ROD REMOVAL

JEFFQUIRIN

MEMBER
2000 FORD WINDSTAR
189,000 MILES

I have a 2000 windstar 3.8L engine and have some question about removing the inner tie rods. When removing the inner tie rod, how do you keep the rack from moving (Breaking), Should I only jack up one side of the car at a time, so the nothing breaks or should I have both left and front on jack stands. What precautions should I take to remove the inner tie rods. I believe the torque is 65 ft lbs. Any help or stwps that can help will be greatly appreciated. Also, how good are the tie rod removing tools. Can this job be don by one person?

1 Reply

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
33,916 POSTS

You must use the special socket to remove and install an inner tie rod. There's no room to get in there with wrenches unless you have the rack on a work bench, and that's really over-doing it. I'd be very surprised if you damaged the rack from twisting it. I wouldn't worry about that unless you need uncommonly high force to get them loose, and I've never run into that.

The most important thing to look at is how the parts are retained. Ford has had some that use set screws in the past so look for those first. Another design requires a special tool to crush two points on a round collar on the back. Those crushed spots would catch on the threads if the joint were to work loose. To get that style of joint off you just use the long socket to unscrew it. The force will bend those two crushed spots up and allow the joint to come off.