Inner tie rod has come out twice - - 94 honda accord wagon

If the rack is 15 years old-- it is about worn out

Just change the rack & forget the ties rod R&R

When you installed the rack and pinion did you centre it on its range of travel.This is the only thing I can think of. good luck

Play in the steering wheel is likely from worn tie rod ends. Have your inner and outer tie rods checked. The outer tie rods are connected to the rod ends coming out of the rack on each side, and are connected to the wheels. The inner tie rods are not visible-but are on the rods under the protective boots on each end of the rack and pinion assembly.
You may need a new rack assembly, but first check if you just need new tie rods.

All the inner tie rod tool sets I have found come with 99% most common tie rod sizes and the lowest cost universal set cost only $40.

are you talking about the engine cradle or the tie rod ends

Procedure on replacing the inner tie rod ends:


1) Raise and safely support the vehicle.

2) Remove the front wheel/tire assembly.

3) Clean the steering rod between the steering boot and outer tie rod end lock nut with a suitable penetrating lubricant and a clean cloth or shop towel.

4) Loosen the outer tie rod end locking nut 1/8 turn.

5) Loosen the steering boot clamp(s), and slide the small clamp off the boot.

6) Carefully loosen the boot and slide outward off the steering rack and onto the shaft to expose the inner steering rod mounting fastener.

7) If necessary, position the inner steering rack shaft in or out to allow for additional access.

8) Relieve the steering rod nut locking tab from the inner steering rack shaft, then loosen the steering rod ball socket nut 1 turn.

9) Matchmark the tie rod end to the threaded shaft.

10) Remove the cotter key and castle nut from the outer tie rod end threaded spindle, and using a tie rod end removal tool, remove the tie rod from the steering knuckle.

11) Hold the tie rod with a wrench, and remove the outer tie rod end from the threaded rod, counting the number of complete turns it takes to remove the tie rod end from the shaft. Write the number of turns on a piece of note paper.

12) Remove the tie rod end lock nut from the threaded steering shaft.

13) Slide the steering rack boot off the shaft.

14) Remove the inner steering rod ball socket nut from the inner steering rack shaft.

To install:

1) Inspect the tie rod end for looseness, and the steering rack boot and tie rod end boot for cracks deterioration or damage and replace as necessary.

2) Clean steering rack shaft and apply a light coating of Genuine Honda Power steering fluid as necessary.

3) Apply a medium strength locking agent to the threads where the inner steering rod ball socket mounts. Use a new locking washer and a new stop washer, and install the inner tie rod onto the steering rack shaft.

4) Tighten the inner tie rod end fastener by 58 ft. lbs. (78 Nm)

5) Peen the lock washer over the nut or onto the flat surface of the steering rack shaft.

6) Apply silicone grease to the outer circumference of the inner tie rod end ball socket, and onto the groove just outside of the socket.

7) Apply silicone grease to the inside of the small end of the steering rack boot, and slide the boot over the steering shaft and onto the rack and install the boot clamps. If the boot has air hose fittings make sure they are installed as removed.

8) Apply a light film of an anti-seize compound onto the threaded tie rod end, and install the tie rod end lock nut.

9) Install the tie rod end onto the tie rod, turning it in exactly the number of turns it took to remove it.

10) Install the tie rod end following the tie rod end installation procedure.

11) The balance of installation is the reverse of the removal procedure.

12) Check the front end alignment and adjust as necessary.

Inner tie rods rarely if ever need to be replaced in my experience: outer tie rod ends are far more common. Its not impossible so here's how.

1. remove the tie rod ends from the knuckle.
2. remove the clamp for the rubber bellows on the rack ends, and slide the bellows down the rod.
3. Turn the rack to fullleft or right as needed to get access to the inner rod end that screws into the rack.
4. There's a lock tab that has to be bent flat. This locks the rod end into the rack.
5. You'll need a (probably) 32mm wrench to undo the rod end from the rack.
6. Note how the lock tab is fitted to the rack/rod end.

7. Put in the new tie rods.

If your garage mechanic told you the inner tie rods are worn out, I'd ask why they think so. At step 4. above, try rotating the rod. This should be quite difficult. There should be NO evidence of slop or wear in the inner joint. What more commonly wears is the bushes on the end of the rack. These bushes are easily replacable with the rack in the car.The tie rods have to be removed to do this. So, when the rods are off, inspect the rack bushes for wear.

SD

Yes. If it's to correct alignment, the inner tie rod shaft has to be moved into your outer tie rod and then tightened. this is all done from the wheel area.

If it is to correct play in the steering, then this should apply.

The inner tie rod connection to the Rack unit is hidden by the rack boot which will need to be removed from the Rack unit but not completely removed from the shaft, just pushed over out of the way while working on the inner tie rod adjustment. The large nut on the end of the inner tie rod will have to be loosened & checked, for any damage, then reinstalled & tightened to the correct amount necessary to cause sufficient drag on the inner tie rod but not too much to restrict it during normal use.

You may even want to consider a remanufactured Rack unit if you have too much slack in the steering. Tightening the Inner Tie Rods doesn't replace the seals & rebuild the remainder of the Rack & Pinion, yet these parts all have the same amount of wear on them that the Inner Tie Rod does.

Manuals available w/step by step instructions for your vehicle at parts stores. good luck

Inside the boot toward to rack (inner tie rod) there is a washer that has to be removed. Then you'll be able to see the wrench contact area that has to be removed to release the inner tie rod from the rack. Then just put it all back together, don't forget the washer lock. Turn the steering wheel as far as it will go according to which sides you're working on at the time to get the most comfortable access.

your track rod end is probably broke. To replace you need to take the wheel off loosen the lock nut at the back of the track rod (half a turn only because this can effect the tracking afterwrds) take the nut at the front off the rod and remove the old part ( you may need a ball joint remover) to replace do everything in reverse.

this is an easy job but you still need to know what you are doing, never play with your safety.