🔧 Durango - Outer Tie Rod End Replacement

The outer tie rod end connects your steering rack to the front steering knuckle. Replacing it restores tight steering and fixes looseness/clunking, but it will change your toe alignment if you don’t mark and match the original position.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 1.0-2.0 hours (one side)

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• 🛑 Support your Durango on jack stands; never rely on a floor jack.
• 🧤 Wear eye protection; tie rod joints can pop loose suddenly.
• 🔥 Let brakes/rotors cool before working near them.
• 🔧 Do not turn the steering wheel with the tie rod disconnected; it can over-travel and stress components.
• 🔋 Battery disconnect is not required for this job.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Wheel chocks
• Safety glasses
• Mechanic gloves
• 22mm socket
• 1/2" drive breaker bar
• 1/2" drive torque wrench (20-200 ft-lbs range)
• Combination wrench set (15mm-24mm)
• Adjustable wrench (12")
• Tie rod end puller (specialty)
• Needle-nose pliers
• Side cutters
• Paint marker
• Tape measure
• Penetrating oil
• Wire brush

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Outer tie rod end - Qty: 1
• Cotter pin - Qty: 1
• Jam nut (if not included with tie rod end) - Qty: 1
• Anti-seize compound - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, center the steering wheel, and set the parking brake.
• Chock the rear wheels using wheel chocks.
• Loosen the front wheel lug nuts 1/2 turn using a 22mm socket and breaker bar.
• Spray penetrating oil on the tie rod end jam nut and the tie rod stud nut using penetrating oil.
• A tie-rod puller separates the tapered stud safely.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Lift and remove the front wheel

• Lift the front corner with a floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Place a jack stand (rated 3-ton minimum) under the proper lift/support point and lower onto it.
• Remove lug nuts with a 22mm socket and remove the wheel.

Step 2: Mark the current tie rod position (protects alignment)

• Clean the threaded area with a wire brush.
• Use a paint marker to mark the position of the jam nut on the threads.
• Measure from a fixed point (example: end of inner tie rod threads) to the outer tie rod end and write it down using a tape measure.
• This helps keep toe close for driving to alignment.

Step 3: Loosen the jam nut

• Hold the inner tie rod with an adjustable wrench (12") (or correct-size wrench from your combination wrench set (15mm-24mm)).
• Loosen the jam nut using a wrench from the combination wrench set (15mm-24mm).
• Do not spin the outer tie rod off yet—just break the jam nut loose.

Step 4: Remove the tie rod end nut and free the stud from the knuckle

• If equipped with a cotter pin, straighten and remove it using needle-nose pliers and side cutters.
• Remove the tie rod end stud nut using a wrench from the combination wrench set (15mm-24mm).
• Install and tighten the tie rod end puller (specialty) until the tapered stud pops free from the steering knuckle.
• A sharp “pop” is normal when it releases.

Step 5: Remove the old outer tie rod end

• Rotate the outer tie rod end off the inner tie rod by hand.
• Count the exact number of turns it takes to remove it, and write it down.

Step 6: Install the new outer tie rod end

• Apply a light coat of anti-seize compound to the threads (avoid the stud/taper).
• Thread the new outer tie rod end on the inner tie rod using the same number of turns you counted.
• Snug the jam nut by hand against the new tie rod end.

Step 7: Attach the stud to the steering knuckle

• Insert the tie rod stud into the steering knuckle.
• Install the new nut and tighten using a wrench from the combination wrench set (15mm-24mm).
• Tighten to the factory specification using a 1/2" drive torque wrench (20-200 ft-lbs range): Torque to the Durango factory tie rod end stud nut spec.
• If a cotter pin is used, align the nut slots as needed by tightening (never loosen to align), then install a new cotter pin using needle-nose pliers.

Step 8: Tighten the jam nut

• Hold the inner tie rod with an adjustable wrench (12").
• Tighten the jam nut with a wrench from the combination wrench set (15mm-24mm).
• Tighten to the factory specification using a 1/2" drive torque wrench (20-200 ft-lbs range) if you have a crowfoot/adapter available: Torque to the Durango factory tie rod jam nut spec.

Step 9: Reinstall the wheel and lower

• Reinstall the wheel and hand-thread lug nuts.
• Lower the Durango off the jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum) using the floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Torque lug nuts in a star pattern using a 1/2" drive torque wrench (20-200 ft-lbs range): Torque to the Durango factory wheel lug nut spec.

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✅ After Repair

• Start the Durango and turn the steering wheel lock-to-lock slowly to confirm smooth movement and no binding.
• Road test at low speed first; confirm the steering wheel is centered and there’s no clunk.
• Get a professional alignment as soon as possible; tie rod changes affect toe and tire wear.
• If the steering wheel is off-center or it pulls, avoid highway speeds until aligned.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $200-$450 (parts + labor + alignment)

DIY Cost: $40-$150 (parts only)

You Save: $160-$300 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.0-2.0 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

HowToo makes it easy: same-day/2-day shipping on every part, plus all the tools and specialty tools you need! Check out the parts and tools sections below to add everything to your cart.