gubro30

My inners are totally shot and I'll be replacing the outer too, so I guess i'll be enjoying much much tighter and precise steering soon!

Anything I should know? Tips, tricks, potential problems? I found the pipe-wrench method while STFA, seems easy enough. I guess it's also easy to avoid an alignment if I remove the complete assembly and make sure the new one is exactly the same lenght before assembling on the car right?

Thanks!

G

4Driver4

The hardest part of the job is getting the rack boot off and on and getting the clamp crimped down again. A new clamp from the dealer helps, as does a long nosed pair of needle nose pliers.

I like to replace the boot at the same time.

audikillsbmw

Or you can DIY. Toe is the easiest of the 3 to adjust.

A6turbo530

lol by easiest you mean only, right?

audikillsbmw

True : )

BernieBenz

conventional radial handled pipe wrench access to the ball socket on the end of the rack. I have and successfully used a chain type pipe wrench which accepts a ½" sq drive extension axially, parallel with and immediately adjacent to the pipe. That inner ball socket is very tight on the rack end, requiring a breaker bar.
I needed to do this just to free up the outer ends for toe alignment purposes. So lube the threads on the outer TREs for easy toe alignment.

BernieBenz

and Si caulked the boot to the rack.

econnelle

but the inner boot clamp is a PITA.

If you don't have the remote clamp tool and go with a traditional screw clamp its worlds easier with a 1/4 inch air ratchet.

I took the cover off of the tie rod area, set the clamp on there and was able to get a 1/4" air ratchet in to tighten it down.

I would have gone nuts trying to do it by hand.

If I remember correctly for how long the inner looks its actually very short and you can get it off/on very easily. The boot is the hard part.

BernieBenz

No, easiest is correct.