This procedure covers the removal and replacement of both inner and outer tie rods on a 2011-2014 Ford F-150 3.5L EcoBoost 4WD, requiring a professional alignment upon completion.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Outer tie rod end - Driver side × 1 — Use OEM Motorcraft or quality aftermarket
• Outer tie rod end - Passenger side × 1 — Use OEM Motorcraft or quality aftermarket
• Inner tie rod - Driver side × 1 — Use OEM Motorcraft or quality aftermarket
• Inner tie rod - Passenger side × 1 — Use OEM Motorcraft or quality aftermarket
• Cotter pins × 4 — Standard automotive cotter pins
• Thread locker (medium strength) × 1 — Loctite 242 or equivalent

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level surface and apply parking brake
2. Loosen front wheel lug nuts while vehicle is on ground
3. Raise front of vehicle and support securely on jack stands at manufacturer lift points
4. Remove both front wheels completely
5. Spray all tie rod threads and castle nuts with penetrating oil and allow to soak for 10-15 minutes
6. Turn steering wheel to center position and ensure ignition is off

Procedure

1. 1

   Measure and document outer tie rod position
   Before loosening anything, measure the exposed thread length from the outer tie rod jam nut to the end of the outer tie rod. Record this measurement for both sides. Alternatively, use a paint marker to mark the position of the outer tie rod relative to the inner tie rod threads. This helps maintain approximate toe settings for driving to alignment shop.
2. 2

   Remove outer tie rod end cotter pin and castle nut
   Straighten and remove the cotter pin from the outer tie rod castle nut using needle nose pliers. Using a 21mm socket, remove the castle nut from the outer tie rod ball stud. Do not reuse the old cotter pin.
3. 3

   Separate outer tie rod from steering knuckle
   Use a tie rod end separator or pickle fork to separate the outer tie rod ball stud from the steering knuckle. Position the separator between the knuckle and tie rod end, and strike with a hammer or use the threaded separator tool to pop the taper loose. Avoid damaging the rubber boot if reusing the tie rod.
   ⚠Pickle forks will damage the tie rod boot - use a proper ball joint separator if attempting to preserve the old tie rod
4. 4

   Remove outer tie rod from inner tie rod
   Using an 18mm wrench, loosen the tie rod jam nut (lock nut) on the inner tie rod threads. Count and record the number of turns required to completely unthread the outer tie rod from the inner tie rod. Remove the outer tie rod and jam nut completely.
5. 5

   Remove inner tie rod boot clamps
   Locate the steering rack boot that covers the inner tie rod connection. Use pliers to remove or cut the boot clamps on both ends of the boot. Slide the boot away from the inner tie rod to expose the inner tie rod connection to the steering rack.
6. 6

   Remove inner tie rod from steering rack
   The inner tie rod is threaded onto the steering rack with a stake nut or crimped connection. Use a 19mm wrench or appropriate inner tie rod tool to grip the flats on the inner tie rod near the rack. Turn counterclockwise to unthread the inner tie rod from the steering rack. If staked, you may need to carefully file or grind the staked portion before removal.
   ℹ️Some inner tie rods require a special crowfoot wrench tool for proper removal and installation without damaging the rack boot
7. 7

   Install new inner tie rod
   Clean the threads on the steering rack with a wire brush. Apply a small amount of medium-strength thread locker to the new inner tie rod threads. Thread the new inner tie rod onto the steering rack by hand, then tighten using the inner tie rod tool or wrench. Torque to specification.
   ℹ️Ensure threads are fully engaged and inner tie rod is seated properly against the rack before final tightening
   Torque spec

   Tie Rod Nut62 Nm (46 lb-ft)
8. 8

   Install steering rack boot
   Slide the steering rack boot back over the inner tie rod and seat it properly on both the rack housing and the inner tie rod. Install new boot clamps and tighten securely. Ensure the boot is not twisted and is properly sealed to prevent contamination.
9. 9

   Install outer tie rod to inner tie rod
   Thread the jam nut onto the new inner tie rod threads first. Then thread the new outer tie rod onto the inner tie rod the same number of turns counted during removal, or to match the measurement taken earlier. Do not tighten the jam nut yet.
10. 10

    Install outer tie rod to steering knuckle
    Insert the outer tie rod ball stud into the steering knuckle. Install the castle nut and tighten to specification using a 21mm socket and torque wrench. The castle nut slots must align with the ball stud hole for cotter pin installation. If needed, tighten further to next slot alignment - never loosen to align.
    ⚠Castle nut must only be tightened beyond torque spec to align cotter pin holes, never loosened
    Torque spec

    Tie Rod End Nut62 Nm (46 lb-ft)
11. 11

    Install new cotter pin
    Insert a new cotter pin through the castle nut and ball stud hole. Bend the cotter pin ends around the castle nut to secure it in place. Ensure the cotter pin is properly installed and cannot work loose.
12. 12

    Repeat for opposite side
    Perform steps 1 through 11 for the opposite side tie rod assembly, following the same procedures for both inner and outer tie rod replacement.
13. 13

    Install wheels and lower vehicle
    Reinstall both front wheels and hand-tighten lug nuts in a star pattern. Lower the vehicle until tires touch the ground but the suspension is not fully loaded. Torque the lug nuts to specification in a star pattern. Fully lower the vehicle and remove jack stands.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts156 Nm (115 lb-ft)
14. 14

    Tighten tie rod jam nuts after alignment
    After professional wheel alignment is completed, ensure the alignment technician has properly torqued the tie rod jam nuts (lock nuts) to specification. If performing the alignment yourself, torque both jam nuts after final toe adjustment is complete.
    ℹ️Jam nuts should only be final-torqued after alignment is complete to prevent disturbing toe settings
    Torque spec

    Tie Rod Lock Nut78 Nm (58 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Verify all cotter pins are properly installed and secured
2. Confirm all jam nuts will be torqued after alignment
3. Check that steering rack boots are properly sealed with clamps installed
4. Ensure no tools or parts were left in wheel wells

Verification

• Test steering for full left and right lock with no binding or unusual noises
• Verify no play exists in tie rod connections by having helper turn steering wheel while you inspect each tie rod end for movement
• Schedule immediate professional wheel alignment - vehicle is not safe to drive at highway speeds until aligned
• After alignment, test drive at low speed to verify steering feel and response
• Re-check all torque specifications after 50-100 miles of driving

More procedures for this vehicle