How To Replace a Tie Rod End - 1973-87 Chevy & GMC

Tie rod ends are simple parts that connect the steering rack to the steering knuckle on each front wheel. An adjusting sleeve sits between the inner and outer tire rod ends. When you turn the steering wheel, it transmits that movement through various steering components until the tie rod ends push or pull the wheel and make the wheels turn. Having the ability to turn corners is pretty important, so tie rod ends play a large role in any vehicle's safety. Deceptively simple looking, the outer tie rod end hides some internal parts.

Here's a breakdown of the different pieces:

The long shaft body passes steering movement to the ball stud
The rounded part houses several bearings that give you proper steering movement even while compensating for bumpy roads
There's usually a grease fitting on the back allowing the bearings to spin freely inside the housing
The bushing is there to keep road grit out of sensitive internal parts
The threaded bolt end goes into the steering knuckle
The inner tie rod end straight body connects to a bearing housing. It's all covered by a rubber protective dust boot