1A Auto Video Library
Our how-to videos have helped repair over 100 million vehicles.
Enter Vehicle Year Make Model

Specify your vehicle's year, make and model to guarantee fit.

How To Replace Outer Tie Rods 2007-13 Chevy Silverado

Created on: 2013-10-03

This video will show how to remove and reinstall the tire and outer tie rod if it's rattling, vibrating, or broken

  1. step 1 :Removing the Wheel
    • Pry off the center cap with a flat blade screwdriver
    • Loosen the lug nuts with the vehicle on the ground
    • Raise the vehicle with a floor jack
    • Secure the vehicle on jack stands
    • Remove the lug nuts
    • Pull off the wheel
  2. step 2 :Removing the Outer Tie Rod
    • Turn the brake rotor by hand or turn the steering wheel to turn the rotor
    • Measure the distance from the end of the boot to the center of the tie rod end
    • Note that measurement
    • Loosen the tie rod lock nut with a 15/16" wrench
    • Loosen the 21mm nut from the tie rod
    • Strike the steering knuckle with a hammer to loosen it
    • Lift the tie rod end out of the steering knuckle
    • Twist off the outer tie rod by hand
  3. step 3 :Installing the Outer Tie Rod
    • Twist on the outer tie rod
    • Push the tie rod into the steering knuckle
    • Thread the 22mm castle nut onto the tie rod by hand
    • Measure the distance from the end of the boot to the center of the tie rod end
    • This should be the same as the measurement from Step 2
    • Twist the grease fitting into the tie rod
    • Tighten the castle nut to 50-55 foot-pounds of torque
    • Put the cotter pin into the castle nut
    • Twist on the cotter pin with pliers
    • Hold the inner tie rod with a 16mm wrench
    • Tighten the locking nut with a 15/16" wrench
    • Add grease to the tie rod with a grease gun
  4. step 4 :Reattaching the Wheel
    • Slide the wheel into place
    • Start the lug nuts by hand
    • Tighten the lug nuts preliminarily
    • Lower the vehicle to the ground
    • Tighten the lug nuts to 100-110 foot-pounds in a crossing or star pattern
    • Reattach the center cap

Tools needed

  • Torque Wrench

    16mm Wrench

    Hammer

    Jack Stands

    Grease Gun

    21mm Socket

    15/16 Inch Wrench

    Flat Blade Screwdriver

    7mm Socket

    Ratchet

    Floor Jack

    Needle nose pliers

    22mm Socket

Brought to you by 1AAuto.com, your source for quality replacement parts and the best service on the Internet.

Hi, I'm Mike from 1A Auto. I hope this how-to video helps you out, and next time you need parts for your vehicle, think of 1AAuto.com. Thanks.

In this video, we're going to show you how to replace the outer tie rod on this 2011 Chevy Silverado 1500. It's the same part and process on most of the trucks and SUVs from GM, from 2007 to 2012. We show you this repair on the passenger's side but it's the same process on the driver's side. The items you'll need for this is a new outer tie rod from 1AAuto.com; jack and jack stands; flat blade screw driver; 7mm, 21mm, and 22mm socket and ratchet; a piece of pipe for leverage; a 15/16 inch wrench; a 16mm wrench; pliers; a hammer; tape measure; a grease gun; and a torque wrench.

The first thing that we need to do is remove the wheel. If you don't have an air wrench, you want to loosen up those lug nuts while the vehicle is still on the ground. Then, using your jack and jack stands, raise the vehicle, remove the lug nuts the rest of the way.

For a preliminary alignment, measure from a fixed point, which is usually the end of the boot, to the middle of your tie rod and record that measurement. Using a 15/16 wrench loosen up the lock nut for the tie rod. Now using a 21mm socket and ratchet, and piece of pipe for extra leverage if you need it, you want to loosen up the nut on the bottom of the outer tie rod. Then, using a hammer, just hit the knuckle there to loosen the outer tie rod. Then you can pull it up and out. Twist off the outer tie rod.

One the left, is the old outer tie rod; on the right, is the new one from 1A Auto. You'll see that they are identical and that they'll install exactly the same. The new tie rod installs the same way. Just put it on to the inner tie rod and twist it on. Twist it right up until you get to that locking nut and then back it off maybe a quarter of a turn. Then take the outer tie rod and push it back down into the knuckle there.

Now put your castle nut back on. Tighten it up until it's snug so that you can measure the tie rod again and make sure you got a good preliminary alignment. Now, just measure again from the same point and make sure that you get the center of the tie rod lined up in the same spot. If you need to adjust at all, just take the castle nut off, pull the tie rod up and out, and twist the tie rod either way to line it up correctly. This is a way to get a good preliminary alignment. We do recommend that you have your vehicle aligned after you do this repair.

Now put that grease fitting into your new outer tie rod and tighten it with a 7mm socket. Once you got it all set, torque the castle nut on, to 50-55 foot-pounds. Once that castle nut is tightened up into place, you want to slide the cotter pin in. Using a pair of pliers, bend the two ends outward to lock it. Hold the inner tie rod, with a 16mm, and then use your 15/16"� to tighten up the locking nut against the outer tie rod. Use a grease gun and put some grease into the tie rod. You will see the boot start expanding.

Fast forward here as we reinstall the wheel and tire. Put the lug nuts on by hand first and tighten them up preliminarily. Lower the vehicle onto the ground. You want to tighten the lug nuts to 100-110 foot-pounds, using a crossing pattern.Then put your cover back on.

We hope this video helps you out. Brought to you by www.1AAuto.com, your source for quality replacement parts and the best service on the Internet. Please feel free to call us toll-free, 888-844-3393. We're the company that's here for you on the Internet and in person.

2007 - 2007  GMC  Sierra 1500
2007 - 2007  Chevrolet  Silverado 1500
2007 - 2013  Chevrolet  Avalanche
2007 - 2013  Cadillac  Escalade EXT
2007 - 2014  GMC  Yukon XL 1500
2007 - 2014  GMC  Yukon
2007 - 2014  Cadillac  Escalade ESV
2007 - 2014  Cadillac  Escalade
2008 - 2013  GMC  Sierra 1500
2007 - 2014  Chevrolet  Tahoe
2008 - 2013  Chevrolet  Silverado 1500
2007 - 2014  Chevrolet  Suburban 1500
2007 - 2013  Chevrolet  Suburban 1500
2007 - 2013  GMC  Yukon XL 1500
2007 - 2008  Cadillac  Escalade
2007 - 2008  Chevrolet  Tahoe
2014 - 2014  Chevrolet  Tahoe
2014 - 2014  GMC  Yukon
2010 - 2013  GMC  Sierra 1500
2011 - 2013  Cadillac  Escalade
2014 - 2014  Cadillac  Escalade
2009 - 2013  GMC  Yukon
2010 - 2013  Chevrolet  Silverado 1500
2009 - 2013  Chevrolet  Silverado 1500
2009 - 2013  Cadillac  Escalade
2007 - 2008  GMC  Yukon
2008 - 2008  Chevrolet  Silverado 1500
2008 - 2008  GMC  Sierra 1500
2009 - 2013  GMC  Sierra 1500
2009 - 2013  Chevrolet  Tahoe
2009 - 2009  GMC  Sierra 1500
2009 - 2009  Chevrolet  Tahoe
2009 - 2009  Chevrolet  Silverado 1500
2011 - 2011  Chevrolet  Silverado 1500
2009 - 2009  GMC  Yukon
2008 - 2013  GMC  Yukon
2007 - 2007  GMC  Yukon
2007 - 2007  Chevrolet  Tahoe
2008 - 2013  Chevrolet  Tahoe
2008 - 2014  GMC  Yukon
2008 - 2014  Cadillac  Escalade ESV
2010 - 2013  Chevrolet  Tahoe
2007 - 2007  Cadillac  Escalade ESV
2008 - 2014  Chevrolet  Tahoe
2007 - 2013  GMC  Yukon
Share on:
Go To Top

Same Day Shipping

Need your part faster? Choose expedited shipping at checkout.

Guaranteed To Fit

Highest quality, direct fit replacement auto parts enforced to the strictest product standards.

USA Customer Support

Exceeding customers' expectations, our team of passionate auto enthusiasts are here to help.

Instructional Video Library

Thousands of how-to auto repair videos to guide you step-by-step through your repair.