🔧 HR-V - Outer Tie Rod End Replacement

This repair replaces the outer tie rod end, which connects the steering rack to the front wheel knuckle. A worn tie rod end can cause loose steering, clunking, uneven tire wear, or wandering while driving.

Difficulty Level: Beginner to Intermediate | Estimated Time: 1-2 hours per side

---

⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work on level ground only and support your HR-V with jack stands before removing a wheel.
• ⚠️ Never rely on a floor jack alone. A floor jack lifts the vehicle; jack stands hold it safely.
• ⚠️ Do not hammer directly on the threaded stud of the tie rod end, or you can damage the steering knuckle or threads.
• ⚠️ Count the turns when removing the old tie rod end. This keeps the alignment close enough to drive carefully to an alignment shop.
• ⚠️ A professional wheel alignment is required after this repair.
• ⚠️ Battery disconnect is not required for this repair.

---

🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• 19mm socket
• 17mm wrench
• 19mm wrench
• Needle-nose pliers
• Tie rod end puller (specialty)
• Torque wrench 10-100 ft-lb
• Breaker bar 1/2-inch drive
• Ratchet 1/2-inch drive
• Paint marker
• Tape measure
• Floor jack 2-ton minimum
• Jack stands 2-ton minimum
• Wheel chocks
• Safety glasses
• Mechanic gloves

---

🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Outer tie rod end - Qty: 1 per side
• New cotter pin - Qty: 1 per side
• New castle nut - Qty: 1 per side, if not included with tie rod end

---

📋 Before You Begin

• 🚗 Park your HR-V on level ground with the steering wheel straight.
• 🅿️ Shift to Park and apply the parking brake.
• 🧱 Place wheel chocks behind the rear wheels.
• 🖊️ Use a paint marker to mark the position of the outer tie rod end and lock nut before removal.
• 📏 A lock nut is the nut on the threaded steering rod that locks the tie rod end in place.
• 📏 A castle nut is the slotted nut that holds the tie rod end stud to the steering knuckle.

---

🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Loosen the Front Wheel Lug Nuts

• Use a 19mm socket and breaker bar 1/2-inch drive to loosen the front wheel lug nuts about 1/2 turn.
• Do not remove the lug nuts yet.
• Loosen lugs before lifting.

Step 2: Raise and Support the Front of the Vehicle

• Use a floor jack 2-ton minimum to lift the front of your HR-V at the front center jacking point.
• Place jack stands 2-ton minimum under the front side support points.
• Lower the vehicle gently onto the jack stands.
• Shake the vehicle lightly by hand to confirm it is stable.

Step 3: Remove the Front Wheel

• Use a 19mm socket and ratchet 1/2-inch drive to remove the loosened lug nuts.
• Remove the wheel and set it flat under the side of the vehicle as an extra safety backup.

Step 4: Mark and Measure the Tie Rod Position

• Use a paint marker to mark the outer tie rod end, lock nut, and threaded inner tie rod shaft.
• Use a tape measure to measure from the lock nut to the center of the tie rod end stud.
• Write the measurement down before removing anything.
• This helps keep the steering close enough for a short drive to the alignment shop.

Step 5: Loosen the Tie Rod Lock Nut

• Use a 19mm wrench on the lock nut.
• Turn the lock nut loose about 1/4 turn only.
• Do not spin it far away from its original position.
• Keep the lock nut as a reference.

Step 6: Remove the Cotter Pin

• Use needle-nose pliers to straighten and pull out the cotter pin from the tie rod end stud.
• If the cotter pin breaks, remove all remaining pieces before removing the nut.
• Discard the old cotter pin. It should not be reused.

Step 7: Remove the Castle Nut

• Use a 17mm wrench or 17mm socket if access allows to remove the castle nut from the tie rod end stud.
• If the stud spins, press upward on the tie rod end by hand while loosening the nut.

Step 8: Separate the Tie Rod End from the Steering Knuckle

• Install the tie rod end puller (specialty) over the tie rod end and steering knuckle.
• Tighten the puller until the tie rod end pops loose from the knuckle.
• A tie rod end puller safely pushes the tapered stud out without damaging the rubber boot or steering knuckle.
• Do not use a pickle fork unless replacing the tie rod end, because it can tear the boot.

Step 9: Count Turns and Remove the Old Tie Rod End

• Spin the old outer tie rod end off the threaded inner tie rod by hand.
• Count the exact number of full turns it takes to remove it.
• Write the number down.
• Example: if it takes 17 full turns to remove, install the new one 17 full turns.

Step 10: Install the New Outer Tie Rod End

• Thread the new outer tie rod end onto the inner tie rod by hand.
• Use the same number of turns you counted during removal.
• Line it up with your paint marks and measurement as closely as possible.
• Do not fully tighten the lock nut yet.

Step 11: Attach the Tie Rod End to the Steering Knuckle

• Insert the new tie rod end stud into the steering knuckle by hand.
• Install the castle nut by hand first to avoid cross-threading.
• Use a 17mm wrench and torque wrench 10-100 ft-lb to tighten the castle nut to Torque to 44 Nm (32 ft-lbs).
• If the cotter pin hole does not line up, tighten the nut slightly more until it lines up. Do not loosen the nut to line up the hole.

Step 12: Install the New Cotter Pin

• Push the new cotter pin through the hole in the tie rod end stud.
• Use needle-nose pliers to bend the cotter pin ends around the castle nut.
• Make sure the cotter pin cannot slide back out.

Step 13: Tighten the Lock Nut

• Hold the outer tie rod end steady with a 17mm wrench.
• Use a 19mm wrench and tighten the lock nut against the outer tie rod end.
• Final tighten the lock nut to Torque to 44 Nm (32 ft-lbs).
• Make sure the tie rod end is not twisted after tightening.

Step 14: Reinstall the Wheel

• Place the wheel back onto the hub by hand.
• Install the lug nuts by hand first.
• Use a 19mm socket and ratchet 1/2-inch drive to snug the lug nuts in a star pattern.

Step 15: Lower the Vehicle and Torque the Lug Nuts

• Use the floor jack 2-ton minimum to raise the vehicle slightly off the jack stands.
• Remove the jack stands 2-ton minimum.
• Lower your HR-V fully to the ground.
• Use a 19mm socket and torque wrench 10-100 ft-lb to tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern to Torque to 108 Nm (80 ft-lbs).

---

✅ After Repair

• ✅ Turn the steering wheel slowly left and right to make sure nothing binds or rubs.
• ✅ Test drive slowly at first. Listen for clunks and check that the steering feels stable.
• ✅ If the steering wheel is off-center, do not keep driving long distances.
• ✅ Schedule a front wheel alignment immediately. Tie rod replacement changes toe angle, which affects tire wear and steering stability.
• ✅ Recheck the lug nut torque after 25-50 miles: Torque to 108 Nm (80 ft-lbs).

---

💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $220-$420 per side, including parts, labor, and basic alignment adjustment

DIY Cost: $35-$90 per side for the tie rod end, plus alignment afterward

You Save: $120-$250 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 0.8-1.3 hours per side.

---

🎯 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.