The 1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee was equipped with a two-wheel drive drivetrain on the base model. A four-wheel drive drivetrain was optional for the 1993 Grand Cherokee. The 1993 Grand Cherokee has outer tie rods that assist in the forward toe alignment. The outer tie rods control the inward and outward facing of the wheels, based on the forward and rearward facing tire treads. Replacing the outer tie rods will help the Grand Cherokee drive straighter down the road, as well as reduce uneven wear to the tires.
Instructions
- 1
Loosen the front wheel lug nuts with a tire iron, but do not remove them yet. Raise the front of the Jeep using a jack. Place jack stands beneath the front lower frame rails on either side of the engine on the two-wheel drive model. If you have a four-wheel drive model, set the jack stands beneath the axle housing ends. Lower the Jeep onto the stands. Remove the front wheel lug nuts, then remove the wheels.
2Loosen the steering rod clamp nuts on one side of the truck. Insert an open-end wrench on the bolt head of the clamp, then place a ratchet on the nut. Loosen the nut two or three turns. Remove the cotter pin from the outer tie rod castle nut with pliers. Remove the castle nut from the outer tie rod ball stud using a ratchet and socket.
3Pull the outer tie rod free from the steering knuckle, using a pry bar if needed. Spin the outer tie rod counter clockwise to remove the tie rod end from the steering rod. Count the number of turns you make during removal, and remember the number of turns to assist the installation process. Remove the outer tie rod from the steering rod completely.
4Lubricate the threaded end of the new outer tie rod with bearing grease. Install the new outer tie rod into the steering rod, and turn the tie rod as many turns as you performed during removal of the old tie rod end. Make sure the tie rod ball stud is facing the correct way to insert into the steering knuckle hole. If the stud is not facing the correct direction, turn the outer tie rod in the direction that requires the least amount of rotation to align the stud with the steering knuckle.
5Insert the ball stud into the steering knuckle. Install a new castle nut onto the tie rod ball stud. Tighten the castle nut to 35 foot-pounds of torque with a 1/2-inch-drive torque wrench and socket set. Insert an open-end wrench onto the bolt head of the tie rod clamp. Tighten the clamp nut to 20 foot-pounds with the torque wrench and a socket. Install a new cotter pin through the tie rod ball stud. If the pin is not aligned with the castle nut, tighten the castle nut a bit more to align the holes.
6Repeat Steps 2 through 5 to complete the tie rod end replacement on the second side of the Grand Cherokee. Install the front wheels onto the Jeep and tighten the lug nuts snug using a tire iron. Raise the Jeep off of the jack stands, then remove the stands from beneath the vehicle. Lower the Jeep to the ground. Tighten the front wheel lug nuts to 110 foot-pounds with your torque wrench and a wheel nut socket.
7Take the Jeep to a professional shop for a laser guided alignment. Do not rely on your visual alignment of the vehicle to be accurate. Laser guided front end alignments are accurate within 0.01-degrees.
