This procedure covers the replacement of rack and pinion boots on a 2011-2014 Ford F-150 with 5.0L V8 4WD, including removal of tie rod ends and steering linkage components to access the boots.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Rack and pinion boot kit (left) × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Rack and pinion boot kit (right) × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Tie rod end cotter pins × 2 — Use OEM specification
• Boot clamps × 4 — Included in boot kit or use OEM

Fluids

• Motorcraft MERCON LV — 1 qt

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level surface and engage parking brake
2. Turn steering wheel to center position and lock with steering wheel holder or seatbelt
3. Raise front of vehicle and support securely on jack stands at frame rail locations
4. Remove both front wheels
5. Spray penetrating oil on tie rod end castle nuts and allow to soak 10-15 minutes
6. Place drain pan under steering rack area

Procedure

1. 1

   Remove front skid plate if equipped
   Remove the mounting bolts securing the front skid plate using appropriate socket. Set skid plate aside. This provides access to the steering rack and tie rod ends.
   Torque spec

   Mounting Bolts34 Nm (25 lb-ft)
2. 2

   Remove tie rod end cotter pins
   Locate the castle nuts on both outer tie rod ends where they connect to the steering knuckles. Use pliers to straighten and remove the cotter pins from both sides. Discard old cotter pins.
3. 3

   Loosen tie rod end castle nuts
   Using appropriate socket, loosen but do not fully remove the tie rod end castle nuts on both sides. Leave nuts threaded on 2-3 turns to protect threads and prevent sudden separation.
   Torque spec

   Tie Rod End Castle Nut55 Nm (41 lb-ft)
4. 4

   Separate tie rod ends from knuckles
   Use tie rod end separator or pickle fork to break the taper connection between the tie rod ends and steering knuckles on both sides. Once separated, remove the castle nuts completely. Support the tie rod ends to prevent damage to boots during removal.
5. 5

   Mark and remove inner tie rods if necessary
   If replacing inner boots or if access requires, mark the position of the tie rod jam nut and inner tie rod connection with paint or marker to preserve alignment. Loosen jam nut and count turns as you unthread the outer tie rod from the inner tie rod assembly. Record turns for reassembly.
   Torque spec

   Tie Rod Nut68 Nm (50 lb-ft)
6. 6

   Remove old boot clamps
   Locate the boot clamps on the damaged or worn rack boot. Use clamp pliers or side cutters to cut and remove the clamps from both the rack housing end and the tie rod end of the boot. Remove clamps from both sides being serviced.
7. 7

   Remove old boots
   Slide the old boots off the rack assembly. Note the orientation and positioning of the boots. Clean the rack housing and tie rod mounting surfaces with wire brush, removing any old grease, dirt, or corrosion. Inspect rack for damage or excessive wear.
   ℹ️If rack shows signs of fluid leakage or damage beyond boot wear, rack replacement may be necessary
8. 8

   Install new boots
   Apply a light coating of grease to the rack shaft if specified in boot kit instructions. Slide the new boots onto the rack assembly, ensuring proper orientation with smaller end toward tie rod and larger end toward rack housing. Position boots in correct location on both sides.
9. 9

   Install new boot clamps
   Position new clamps (typically included in boot kit) on both ends of each boot. Use boot clamp pliers to crimp clamps securely, ensuring boots are sealed against rack housing and tie rod connection points. Verify clamps are tight and boots cannot rotate or slide.
10. 10

    Reinstall inner tie rods if removed
    If tie rods were removed, thread the outer tie rod back onto the inner tie rod the same number of turns recorded during removal, aligning with reference marks. This preserves approximate alignment. Do not fully tighten jam nut yet.
11. 11

    Reconnect tie rod ends to knuckles
    Insert tie rod end studs into the steering knuckle tapers on both sides. Install castle nuts and tighten to specification. Ensure cotter pin holes align; tighten slightly additional if needed to align holes, but do not back off torque. Install new cotter pins and bend to secure.
    Torque spec

    Tie Rod End Castle Nut55 Nm (41 lb-ft)
12. 12

    Tighten tie rod jam nuts
    Hold the inner tie rod with appropriate wrench to prevent rotation. Torque the tie rod jam nuts to specification on both sides to lock the tie rod adjustment in place.
    Torque spec

    Tie Rod Nut68 Nm (50 lb-ft)
13. 13

    Check power steering fluid level
    Check power steering fluid reservoir level. Top off with Motorcraft MERCON LV as needed to bring to proper level. Start engine and turn steering wheel lock-to-lock several times to purge air from system. Recheck fluid level and top off if necessary.
    ⚠Check for leaks around boots and connections while turning steering wheel
14. 14

    Reinstall wheels and skid plate
    Reinstall both front wheels and hand-tighten lug nuts in star pattern. If skid plate was removed, reinstall with mounting bolts torqued to specification. Lower vehicle to ground and torque wheel lug nuts to specification in star pattern.
    Torque spec

    Mounting Bolts34 Nm (25 lb-ft)

    Wheel Lug Nuts169 Nm (125 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Ensure all boot clamps are properly crimped and secure
2. Verify all fasteners are torqued to specification
3. Confirm tie rod ends are properly seated in knuckle tapers with new cotter pins installed
4. Check power steering fluid level is correct and no leaks are present

Verification

• Start engine and turn steering wheel fully left and right several times, listening for unusual noises
• Check for power steering fluid leaks around boots, connections, and rack housing
• Verify steering returns to center smoothly with no binding
• Test drive vehicle at low speed in safe area to confirm steering operates normally
• Schedule front end alignment as tie rod adjustment may have shifted slightly during service

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