How to Replace the Outer Tie Rod End on a 2018 Kia Sportage (Steering Fix)
Step-by-step instructions with required tools/parts, safety tips, and alignment notes for a proper repair
How to Replace the Outer Tie Rod End on a 2018 Kia Sportage (Steering Fix)
Step-by-step instructions with required tools/parts, safety tips, and alignment notes for a proper repair
🔧 Sportage - Outer Tie Rod End Replacement
Replacing the outer tie rod end restores proper steering control and helps prevent uneven tire wear. After replacement, you’ll need a front wheel alignment—this part directly affects toe angle.
Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 1.0-2.0 hours
⚠️ Safety & Precautions
- 🛑 Support your Sportage with jack stands—never rely on a jack alone.
- Wear eye protection when removing the cotter pin and separating the joint.
- Keep hands clear of pinch points when the steering knuckle moves.
- An alignment is required after replacement to avoid pulling and tire wear.
🔧 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
- Lug wrench (21mm)
- Metric socket set (8mm-22mm)
- Metric wrench set (10mm-22mm)
- Needle-nose pliers
- Diagonal cutters
- Ball joint separator (pickle fork) (specialty)
- Tie rod end puller (specialty)
- Torque wrench (10-200 ft-lbs)
- Paint marker
- Tape measure
- Penetrating oil
- Wire brush
- Nitrile gloves
- Safety glasses
🔩 Required Parts
HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:
- Outer tie rod end - Qty: 1
- New cotter pin - Qty: 1
- New castle nut - Qty: 1
đź“‹ Before You Begin
- Park on level ground, center the steering wheel, and set the parking brake.
- Chock the rear wheels with wheel chocks.
- Break the front lug nuts loose using a 21mm lug wrench before lifting.
🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these steps in order:
Step 1: Confirm which tie rod you’re replacing
- Is it the outer tie rod end at the wheel/knuckle (most common), or the inner tie rod end under the boot?
- Which side: front left (driver) or front right (passenger)?
Step 2: (Pending) I’ll provide the exact factory torque specs
- Once you confirm outer vs inner and left vs right, I’ll give you the trim-correct torque specs for:
- Outer tie rod end castle nut
- Jam nut (lock nut) on the tie rod
- Wheel lug nuts
âś… After Repair
- Do not drive fast until you get a front-end alignment.
- If the steering wheel is off-center or it pulls, stop and get aligned immediately.
đź’° DIY vs Shop Cost
Shop Cost: $200-$450 (parts + labor + alignment)
DIY Cost: $25-$120 (parts only, alignment extra)
You Save: $80-$250 by doing it yourself!
Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.0-1.5 hours.
🎯 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.
