tie rod sloppy at steering rack

[Patrick]

'92 jetta, like the subject line says. Tie rod ends are fine, tie rod on driver's side is loose at the rack. Can I fix this in the car, or do I need to pull the rack and drop another one in?

[theman53]

proabably it is an inner tie rod. Or the locking nut came loose. Should be under a 20.00 part and then alignment if that is what it is.

[Patrick]

So I might be able to fix it WITHOUT  pulling the rack? Couldn't find any reference to the inner tie rod end in the Hayne's manual or the chilton's. I'll pull the boot off and have a look.

[theman53]

Yeah the inner tie rod can be had at autohaus for around 20.00
the entire assembly with inner and outer for about 30.00

There are different inners for manual and power steering too.

[Patrick]

Got it fixed. Had a spare that I removed from a parts car.........
Rebushed the control arms while I was at it, had a couple of questionable bushings and had new ones on the shelf. Don't know if I could have got the inner tie rod off the rack without having the control arm off. (driver's side). Used the Audi TT bushings, works well. Car feels a lot better than it has in a while! Stays pointed the same direction until I tell it to change!