subject: Change Lower Tie Rod Ends In An Easy Way [print this page] A worn out rod ends on your Chevy Blazer will cause play at the steering wheel. Here we will follow a few steps to replace it along with a couple of methods to keep as much wheel alignment as possible. Though you can have a mechanic do this for you, it is not a complicated process, and you can save some money by doing it yourself.
Instructions:
Step 1. Park your Chevy Blazer in a safe place and level surface. Make sure you have plenty of room around the front wheel you need to work on.
Step 2. Loosen the wheel lugs with a lug wrench. Raise the vehicle using a floor jack and safely support in on a jack stand. Remove the tire.
Step 3. Remove the cotter pin from the rod ends ball stud to steering knuckle retaining nut using needle-nose pliers; remove the retaining nut using a wrench.
Step 4. Disengage the rod ends from the steering knuckle socket using a rod ends separator; then measure the length of the installed rod ends all the way to the rod ends connector or adjustment sleeve, including the lock nut between the sleeve and the rod ends.
Step 5. Loosen the lock nut securing the tie-rod and to the connector or adjustment sleeve using a wrench or adjustment wrench; then unscrew the rod ends by hand counting the number of turns it takes to remove the rod ends from the adjustment sleeve.
Step 6. Screw the new rod ends into the adjustment sleeve with the same number of turns it took to remove the old unit; then measure the installed rod ends length and compare your numbers with those obtained in Steps 4 and 5--this will help preserve front wheel alignment. Make any necessary adjustments and tighten the rod ends to the sleeve lock nut.
Step 7. Set the rod ends stud into the steering knuckle socket and install the rod ends in place using a steering linkage installer. Install the tie rod-to-steering knuckle stud retaining nut and a new cotter pin. If required to do so, install the small grease valve that came with your new rod ends and fill the unit with wheel bearing grease using a grease gun.
Step 8. Install the tire and lower the vehicle. Finish tightening the wheel lug nuts and make sure the steering linkage is working properly.
