How to Replace Tie Rod Assembly 1998-2004 Nissan Frontier
Created on: 2013-10-22
If the tie rod needs to be replaced, this video will show how to remove it and prepare a new on one the 98-04 Nissan Frontier
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step 1 :Removing the Wheel
- 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
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step 2 :Removing the Tie Rod
- Bend the cotter pins in the tie rod castle nuts with pliers
- Push out the cotter pin with a punch and hammer
- Remove the 22mm castle nut from the end of the outer tie rod
- Remove the 22mm castle nut from the end of the inner tie rod
- Tap the tie rod with a hammer to loosen it
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step 3 :Preparing the New Tie Rod
- Unscrew the new tie rod to lengthen it
- Screw in the new tie rod to shorten it
- Adjust the new tie rod to the length of the old tie rod
- Tighten the locking nuts
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step 4 :Installing the New Tie Rod
- Put the new tie rod into place
- Thread on the castle nuts by hand
- Tighten both castle nuts
- Push the cotter pins into the castle nuts
- Bend the cotter pin into place with pliers
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step 5 :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 foot-pounds in a crossing or star pattern
Tools needed
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21mm Socket
A Piece of Pipe (for leverage)
Hammer
Torque Wrench
Jack Stands
Center Punch
22mm Wrench
Ratchet
Floor Jack
Needle nose pliers
22mm Socket
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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 a front tie rod. We're going to show you the passenger side; the driver side is the same procedure. This is a 2003 Nissan Frontier. This procedure is the same for '98 to '04 Nissan Frontier as well as Xterra. You'll need a new tie rod assembly from 1AAuto.com, jack and jack stands, 22 and 21mm sockets and ratchet, pliers, a small punch, a hammer, and a 22mm wrench.
If you don't have the benefit of air tools, start with your vehicle on the ground, loosen the lug nuts, then raise and secure the vehicle and remove the lug nuts, wheel and tire.
Go ahead and locate the tie rod that you're looking to replace. You'll see a nut there and it's got a cotter pin through the outer portion of that tie rod. You're going to want to bend it until it snaps or just push it through. This one's rusted so we're going to bend the tabs back and forth until they snap. Then we're going to use a small punch and hammer to knock it out. I'm lining up the small punch with what's left of that cotter pin and pushing it through the stud of that outer tie rod end. We're going to repeat the process for the inner side. I use a little small screwdriver to get the tab started, and once I can reach them with my pliers, bend them back and forth until they snap.
There are a couple different methods for getting this off. Here we're using the wrench method where you lock them together and then you can break them free. That's going to give you a little extra leverage. This is a 22m nut and I'm using two big wrenches locked together and breaking this free. The other option of course is a 22m socket and socket wrench. You could use a pipe for extra leverage in that case. Here I'll just finish taking this off with this wrench and I'll fast-forward as I do it.
Here you can see I'm using the locked wrench method, but I'm running into quite a bit of resistance here. I don't think I'm going to get the leverage that I'm going to need with these so I'm going to show you the other way to do it, which would be with a socket and socket wrench. Here I'm using a 22m socket, a ratchet, and a pipe for extra leverage. This is another way of getting the job done. I'm going to go ahead and remove this nut like I did the outside one. Use a hammer and hit on the knuckle there for the outer end of that tie rod until it gets loose. You can see it comes right out. If it doesn't come out on the top just go ahead and continue the same thing.
Here's a comparison of the old part and the new part. It's an exact, direct replacement fit. You just unscrew it to lengthen it or screw it in to shorten it. You're going to want to measure the length of your old tie rod assembly and match it up with the new one, and then temporarily lock it in place with those locking nuts as you'll see here. Here you can see how we've adjusted them to the exact length.
Going back in, I'm going to start the outer portion of it and push down and start that crown nut. Then I'm going to go ahead and do the same thing with the inner side. Now we're going to tighten the nuts up, and they're castle nuts so they have basically little grooves in them, and then there's obviously the hole in the tie rod stud that the cotter pin goes through, so you want to tighten these up, get them nice and tight, and then pull them tighter so that the hole lines up with one of the grooves in the castle nut, and you can get the cotter pins through.
Here I'm just adding a little extra pressure so that I can get those to line up while it's still tight. Then once I have that done I'm going to reinsert a new cotter pin. Now go ahead and insert the cotter pins on the outside, and then on the inside. Now you can take your pair of pliers and bend the ears back so that the cotter pins can't fall out. Go ahead and with a 22m wrench and tighten up on those locking nuts.
Reinstall your wheel and start your lug nuts by hand. Now go ahead and tighten up on those lug nuts in a star pattern. Now with your vehicle on the ground, go ahead and torque your lug nuts to 100 ft. lbs. and just be sure to do it in a star pattern.
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.
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