All,

I searched the forums for a couple hours and couldn’t find any information on how exactly to replace just the seal on driver side, steering rack, inner tie rod, or as Nissan calls it the “inner socket”.

It’s leaking pretty bad through the boot. And searching YouTube as well, the only info I have been able to find is replacing the entire rack and pinion assembly.

However, in the Nissan service manual. there is a procedure to replace just the inner socket, but does not expand on how to actually do it. First of all, I haven’t even priced checked or even found availability of just the inner Tie rod, but I would think it’s out there. Anyone done this before?

On pages ST-34-35. Assembly procedure is to apply a three bond sealant “to inner socket and turn pinion fully to retract inner socket into gear housing assembly.” I would think what they mean by turning the pinion, actually means turning the spline where steering wheel connects to rack, correct? Can anyone make sense of this?

Thanks!
Gordon

 

Since your car is 14/15 years old, I think you would just be wasting your time to replace the leaky boot. Purchase two new/rebuilt drive axle, fully assembled with new parts, and install them on your car.

 

Yup, that's what I would do.

 

You need an inner tie rod tool, like a LISLE 45750 or PERFORMANCE TOOL W83027.

The big question here is, what is leaking? Are the seals in your rack bad and does power steering fluid leak from the boot?

This is a good how to

 

All,

That’s a good video on inner tie rod replacement. I didn’t find that.

Basically, I believe the inner seal in the rack is leaking and it’s coming out of the boot. I do not believe it’s a pressure or return hose. The leak is coming from inside the boot. Correct me if I’m wrong, but that is just a dust boot correct? Shouldn’t be any steering fluid in there. I bled system by running the steering stop to stop about 15 cycles, and had a 5” puddle out of left boot.

See my pics with boot rolled back and steering full right. Biggest question is I don’t understand the seal arrangement? The seal has two ears on it, 180 degrees apart. The seal is captive to the rack bore which the inner tie rod screws into. The rack bore has two matching slots for the seal ears. So the seal is sandwiched between the rack bore and the tie rod socket end (The pic with the slotted bore is a snapshot from the YouTube video and not the one on my car). So the actual pressurized fluid gallery is inside the slotted bore? Thats the only way I could see how it works, but I still question it? I just don’t understand it. I didn’t see any seal in the video and really want to know where its supposed to live. (Note that I pulled the seal from the slots and pushed it over to get a better picture of it.)

Simply replacing just the tie rod is easy. I want to fix the internal leak.

Also, I see the W83027 tool for breaking torque on the socket. Wouldn’t a crowfoot wrench fit on it just as easy?