1994 Ranger 4x4 XLT Inner Tie Rod Torque Specs

[RangerRyan50]

Does anybody know the torque specs for inner tie rods on a 1993-1997 Ranger XLT 4.0 4x4? After watching videos then looking at my tie rods, the inners are different than newer rangers. Instead of threading into the steering rack, the two inner tie rods are connected with another bar going into the steering column. I can not find a video on this same style. A picture is attached below of what I mean.
Along with this, does anybody know if I need both sides of the truck jacked up at the same time? It seems that this would be easiest after giving it a good look.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I'm not sure of the exact spec on those. The biggest thing is when you pull them tight that you continue to tighten the nut until the cotter key hole lines up with the castle nut. Never loosen them to get them to line up.

This is a torque spec table by bolt size....

SAE Bolt Torque Specifications – The Ranger Station

 

[Dirtman]

Most tapered tie rod ends go to roughly 35-40 ft pounds I think and like uncle gump said never back it off. I don't think I've ever torqued an old school tie rod end. Just tight ratchet tight and cotter pin.

 

[RangerRyan50]

I'm not sure of the exact spec on those. The biggest thing is when you pull them tight that you continue to tighten the nut until the cotter key hole lines up with the castle nut. Never loosen them to get them to line up.

This is a torque spec table by bolt size....

SAE Bolt Torque Specifications – The Ranger Station

Thanks for the reply! I ended up not doing the tie rods as I planned to today because my truck nearly fell off the jackstand on one side! Dodged a bullet on that one… My damn neighborhood has no flat areas so I was working on the flattest part of the street I could find… Usually works fine when doing one side at a time but for these tie rods it looks like you have to do both sides at the same time ( I could be wrong but it looks that way). Do you know if it’s possible to do it one side at a time?
Anyways it scared the crap out of me and thank god I wasn’t under the truck and it didn’t fall off!!

 

[RangerRyan50]

Most tapered tie rod ends go to roughly 35-40 ft pounds I think and like uncle gump said never back it off. I don't think I've ever torqued an old school tie rod end. Just tight ratchet tight and cotter pin.

Thanks that is what I was planning on doing from the videos I watched! From the picture I posted, you can see the transmission pan. It’s all gunked up with something. Do you think that’s an oil leak from the engine? I’ve seen that black gunk on some other stuff in the engine bay while working on my cooling system and I have no clue what it could be… Also worth noting the water pump was covered in it when I replaced it, could it be coolant? The truck was losing coolant slowly over time for awhile before I replaced the water pump and haven’t driven enough to tell if it’s still going to be losing coolant.