Subject: Re: Center Link & Tie Rod Replacement Author: Shayne (moderator) : member since July, 2005 : 6589 posts Posted on: 2009-09-09 12:45:14

Nothing complex but you will need either a pickle fork or a tie rod splitter. The latter being better. Don't buy a junk tool spend a few bucks and get something middle-of-the-road.

-Raise the front of the car and place it on jackstands.
-The nuts are either 17 mm (11/16) or 19mm (3/4). Remove the two at the wheels and the one at the idler and the one at the Pitman arm. You may need a 5mm Allen wrench to hold the rod end.
-Once the nuts are off use the tool you purchased to break the taper free at the 4 joints.
-Place the complete unit on the ground and begin to assemble the new parts. You want to either measure the length centre to centre at the back of the tie rod ends or count the threads and make the new one as identical to the old as possible. Snug the clamp bolts on the tie rods to the drag link (15mm or 5/8 but some are 16mm).
-Install the drag part first on the Pitman, then the idler and snug the nuts then one tire and then the other end.
Once everything is in place torque down the 4 rod nuts to 65 Nm and the clamp nuts to 27Nm.
Drive to an alignment shop and have the front end aligned.

Shayne
525iTA
330iA



I don't know the same things that you don't know.

• Center Link & Tie Rod Replacement - juliangg540 2009-09-08 23:40:21 (764 views)
  • hmm, that's odd...Edwin just did a write-up & video on teh e38 forum.... (url) - Q 2009-09-09 16:07:34 (392 views)
  • Re: Center Link & Tie Rod Replacement - Shayne 2009-09-09 12:45:14 (418 views)
    • Re: Center Link & Tie Rod Replacement - juliangg540 2009-09-09 15:09:55 (309 views)