Having read through a bunch of DIYs before replacing my tie rods today, I thought I knew everything I needed. Unfortunately, the DIYs left a few things out that I think are specific to the Xi.
If you plan to reuse the dust boots on your tie rods (I did), you better be sure that:
a) you can disassemble the old tie rods. You can't slip the boots off - you have to ether unscrew them, or, if they're seized, cut them. (Hello, spare hacksaw blades..)
b) Since you need to disassemble the old tie rod to remove the dust boot, you can't put the old tie rod next to the new tie rod so you can make the new one "about the same size" as the old one. You need to figure out some way to measure the old one (harder than it sounds), then disassemble it and remove the boot, install the boot on the new rod, assemble the new rod, and then make it "close" to the size that you remembered from 20 minutes ago. Ick.
I did my best, but the car was definitely out of alignment after I replaced mine - steering wheel was off center and the front end felt weird. Lucky for me, the local shop was able to squeeze in an alignment for me the same day.
If I replace them again (that would be in another 150K miles and 10 years - not terribly likely?), I'll certainly buy a set of boots, too. Probably add in some better clamps than plastic tie-wraps also.
If you plan to reuse the dust boots on your tie rods (I did), you better be sure that:
a) you can disassemble the old tie rods. You can't slip the boots off - you have to ether unscrew them, or, if they're seized, cut them. (Hello, spare hacksaw blades..)
b) Since you need to disassemble the old tie rod to remove the dust boot, you can't put the old tie rod next to the new tie rod so you can make the new one "about the same size" as the old one. You need to figure out some way to measure the old one (harder than it sounds), then disassemble it and remove the boot, install the boot on the new rod, assemble the new rod, and then make it "close" to the size that you remembered from 20 minutes ago. Ick.
I did my best, but the car was definitely out of alignment after I replaced mine - steering wheel was off center and the front end felt weird. Lucky for me, the local shop was able to squeeze in an alignment for me the same day.
If I replace them again (that would be in another 150K miles and 10 years - not terribly likely?), I'll certainly buy a set of boots, too. Probably add in some better clamps than plastic tie-wraps also.
Aucun commentaire:
Enregistrer un commentaire