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Autopapyrus · Renault Duster (1st generation)
https://autopapyrus.com/guides/renault/duster/tie-rod-end-replacement/
Compiled automatically from service literature and owner experience. Specs are for the typical configuration — check them against your exact car before you start.

Renault Duster (1st generation): Tie Rod End Replacement

The tie rod end is threaded onto the steering rack tie rod and secured with a jam nut. Signs of wear: knocking or clicking when turning the steering wheel at low speed, play in the steering wheel, uneven wear on the inner or outer edge of the tire tread, and a torn dust boot. The design is the same on gasoline and diesel first-generation Duster models, and the F4R engine does not affect the procedure. A wheel alignment is required after replacement.

Difficulty: Medium Time: 1-1.5 hours per side, plus a wheel alignment Steps: 13

Part

№PartAlternatives
01 Tie rod end for Renault Duster (with dust boot and lock nut)left or right, best replaced as a pair TRW, Lemförder, Sasic, Ruville

Tools

9
  • Jack and jack stands
  • 17 mm lug wrench
  • socket and wrench set (the tie rod end stud nut and jam nut are usually 17-22 mm)
  • ball joint separator or a heavy hammer for knocking the stud out
  • adjustable or pipe wrench
  • penetrating oil (such as WD-40)
  • wire brush
  • marker or paint for alignment marks
  • torque wrench

Step by step

13 steps
  1. Park the vehicle on level ground, set the parking brake, and on a manual transmission put it in first gear. Loosen the lug bolts on the side you are working on without removing the wheel. Raise the front of the vehicle, place jack stands under the body, and remove the wheel.
  2. Apply penetrating oil to the tie rod end threads at the jam nut and to the stud threads, and let it soak for 10-15 minutes. Clean the threads with a wire brush.
  3. Make marks to preserve the original position: mark the tie rod and the jam nut with a marker, or count the number of turns as you unscrew it. This lets you install the new tie rod end at approximately the same length so you can drive to a shop for the alignment.
  4. Remove the cotter pin (if present) and unscrew the tie rod end stud nut on the steering knuckle arm. If the stud spins together with the nut, hold it with a hex key (if it has a hex socket) or press it up from below with a pry bar.
  5. Press the stud out of the steering knuckle. A puller is preferred. Without a puller: thread the nut on loosely, flush with the end of the stud threads, and strike the side of the knuckle eye with a hammer. Do not hit the stud itself, or you will damage the threads.
  6. While holding the tie rod with a pipe wrench on the flats (not on the rack threads or the boot), loosen the jam nut on the tie rod end and unscrew the tie rod end, counting the turns.
  7. Clean the tie rod threads and inspect them for wear and damage. Check the steering rack boot and the tie rod itself: if there is play in the inner joint, the tie rod must be replaced, not just the tie rod end.
  8. Thread the jam nut and the new tie rod end on by the same number of turns or up to the marks. Do not fully tighten the jam nut yet.
  9. Insert the tie rod end stud into the knuckle, install the nut, and tighten it with a torque wrench (the torque is usually in the range of 40-60 N·m (30-44 lb-ft); verify the exact value against the Renault service manual). Install a new cotter pin if the nut is a castle nut.
  10. Tighten the jam nut on the tie rod while keeping the tie rod end from turning. The torque is usually in the range of 40-60 N·m (30-44 lb-ft).
  11. Install the wheel, lower the vehicle, and tighten the lug bolts in a crisscross pattern to 105 N·m (77 lb-ft).
  12. Be sure to have the wheel alignment done on an alignment machine: even with marks, the alignment shifts after replacement. Do not put it off, or the tires will wear out quickly.
  13. Check the steering: it should move freely with no knocking, and the steering wheel should be centered when driving straight. Check the nut tightness again after 100-200 km.

Common mistakes and warnings

  • Steering is a safety-critical system
  • If you lack experience, a puller, and a torque wrench, leave the job to a repair shop
  • Do not drive with a worn-out tie rod end: if it fails, the wheel will no longer be controllable
  • Always secure a jacked-up vehicle with jack stands