Is an inner tie rod, part of the rack and pinion steering?

Most steering rack and pinions are mounted on the front frame of your vehicle. Follow your tie rod ends from the front wheels inward. They screw onto the rack by the inner tie rod ends.

Play in the steering wheel is likely from worn tie rod ends. Have your inner and outer tie rods checked. The outer tie rods are connected to the rod ends coming out of the rack on each side, and are connected to the wheels. The inner tie rods are not visible-but are on the rods under the protective boots on each end of the rack and pinion assembly.
You may need a new rack assembly, but first check if you just need new tie rods.

Worn inner tie rod joint,on the steering rack

If you go to an alignment only shop, not some
chain store, with an alignment rack,they will
change it for you, if it can be done

Then you have to set all the front end adjustments

Don't let them pitch you, a complete rack assy
Moog-- makes those inner tie rods, and you put your
good outer joint on it

On these vehicles, rack & pinion mount bushings and inner tie rod bushings basically wear away to a point sometimes they fall apart completely, dangerous to drive if thats the case. Easy fix for a trained technician.

it is the one connected to rack and pinion. there are two types inner and outer tie rods. Inner tie rod is The one connected closest to rack and pinion. Outer tie rod is the one connected to steering knuckle.

if fluid is flowing out the bellows, you need to replace the steering rack assembly. There is no fluid in the area of the inner tie rod. The seal is just before the tie rod.

Steering Gear
The power rack and pinion steering gear is serviced as a power steering short rack (3L547). The front wheel spindle tie rods (3280) and tie rod ends (3A130) are serviced individually. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

• The power rack and pinion steering gear incorporates quick connect fittings for the power steering pressure hose (3A719) and power steering return hose (3A713) that allow the lines to swivel. This is normal and does not indicate loose fittings.
• If the fittings leak, check to make sure they are tightened to 14-20 Nm (10-14 lb-ft). Do not overtighten.
• If the leak is not corrected, replace the fitting seals.

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Section 11-02: Steering System, Power 1997 Windstar Workshop Manual
REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION Tie Rod End Steering Gear Installed
Removal

1. Remove and discard cotter pin and nut from worn tie rod end (3A130).
   

1. Disconnect tie rod end from front wheel knuckle (3K185), using Tie Rod End Remover TOOL-3290-D or equivalent.
   

1. Hold tie rod end with a wrench and loosen tie rod end jam nut.
   

1. Note depth to which tie rod end was located by using the jam nut as a marker. Grip tie rod end with a pair of suitable pliers and remove tie rod end from front wheel spindle tie rod (3280).
   

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11-02: Steering System, Power 1997 Windstar Workshop Manual
REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION Steering Gear Removal

1. Raise vehicle on a twin post hoist and remove wheel and tire assemblies. Refer to Section 00-02 .
   
   
   
   
   

1. Support vehicle with jackstands under front jack pads.
   

1. Remove tie-rod end cotter pins and nuts and remove tie rod ends (3A130) from front wheel knuckle (3K185). Refer to Section 04-01 .
   

1. Remove front stabilizer bar (5482). Refer to Section 04-01 .
   

1. Disconnect heated oxygen and catalyst monitor sensors.
   

1. Support flex pipe.
   

1. Remove bolts and disconnect flex pipe from the converter.
   

1. Raise dash opening steering column opening weather seal (3513) (secondary) above the steering gear housing (3548).
   

1. Remove pinch bolt retaining steering column intermediate shaft coupling (3A525) to power steering gear input shaft and control (3D517) and disconnect the shaft.
   

1. Remove nuts from steering gear-to-front subframe retaining bolts. Remove bolts.
   

1. Remove rear subframe-to-body retaining bolts.
   

1. Lower twin post hoist carefully until rear of subframe (5R003) separates from body, approximately four inches.
   

1. Remove heat shield band and fold shield down.
   

1. Rotate power rack and pinion steering gear to clear bolts from front subframe (5C145) and pull left to facilitate line fitting removal.
   

1. Place a drain pan under vehicle and remove line fittings.
   

1. Remove power rack and pinion steering gear through LH wheel well.
   

1. Remove and discard the O-rings.
   

Installation

1. Install new Teflon® O-rings on line fittings as outlined.
   

1. Place steering gear retaining bolts in steering gear housing.
   

1. Install power rack and pinion steering gear through LH wheel well.
   

1. Install power steering line fittings to power rack and pinion steering gear.
   

1. Position power rack and pinion steering gear into front subframe.
   

1. Install ******** heat shield.
   

1. Install tie-rod ends to front wheel knuckle. Install nuts and new cotter pins. Refer to Section 04-01 .
   

1. Install LH front stabilizer bar. Refer to Section 04-01 .
   

1. Install steering gear to subframe mounting nuts. Tighten to 115-135 Nm (85-99 lb-ft).
   

1. Raise hoist until rear subframe contacts body.
   

1. Install rear subframe to body retaining bolts. Tighten to 113-153 Nm (83-112 lb-ft).
   

1. Install exhaust system flex tube to dual converter Y pipe (5F250) and remove flex tube support.
   

1. Connect heated oxygen and catalyst monitor sensors.
   

1. Install tire and wheel assemblies. Tighten lug nuts (1012) to 115-142 Nm (85-104 lb-ft).
   

1. Using a new pinch bolt, install the steering column intermediate shaft coupling on the power steering gear input shaft and control and the lower steering column shaft. Tighten the pinch bolt to 34-46 Nm (25-33 lb-ft).
   

1. Position steering column opening weather seal (secondary) over the steering gear housing. Tighten nuts to 4.5-6.3 Nm (40-55 lb-in).
   

1. Remove jackstands and lower vehicle.
   

1. Fill power steering oil reservoir (3A697) with Premium Power Steering Fluid E6AZ-19582-AA or equivalent meeting Ford specification ESW-M2C33-F. Refer to Section 11-00 .
   

1. Check system for leaks and proper operation.
   
   

check if you got rack in pinion steering the mounting bolts for looseness .check tie rod end housing seats and the inner tie rod ball studs for wear.if all is good.your rack has worn pinion bushing and rack bushing.

i think steering gear has to be removed to get rubber bellows off to access tie rod.

Section 11-02: Steering System, Power 1997 Continental Workshop Manual
DISASSEMBLY AND ASSEMBLY Tie Rod and Bellows SPECIAL SERVICE TOOL(S) REQUIRED Description Tool Number Bench Mounted Holding Fixture T57L-500-B
Disassembly

1. NOTE: Drill out mounting holes in holding fixture with a 9/16 inch drill to allow the power rack and pinion steering gear assembly mounting bolts to fit.
   
   Mount power rack and pinion steering gear assembly in Bench Mounted Holding Fixture T57L-500-B.
   

1. Remove tie rod ends (3A130).
   

1. CAUTION: Use care not to damage bellows. If bellows are damaged, this will allow contamination into the steering gear and cause leakage.
   Remove four clamps retaining bellows to steering gear housing (3548) and front wheel spindle tie rods (3280). Discard clamps if damaged or excessively corroded.
   

1. NOTE: Steering gear does not use rivets or roll pins between the inner front wheel spindle tie rod and rack.
   
   Remove bellows along with power steering gear rack tube (3K762).
   

1. Position power rack and pinion steering gear so that several steering gear teeth are exposed. Hold steering gear sector shaft (3575) with an adjustable wrench on end teeth only while loosening ball joint nuts.
   

Assembly

1. Expose several steering gear teeth and hold steering gear with adjustable wrench.
   

1. Tighten each front wheel spindle tie rod separately to 90-110 Nm (67-81 lb-ft).
   

1. Thoroughly clean steering gear and steering gear housing bore of any foreign material. Any abrasive material is extremely harmful to high-pressure oil seals.
   

1. Apply Steering Gear Grease C3AZ-19578-A or equivalent meeting Ford specification ESW-M1C87-A to groove in front wheel spindle tie rod where tie rod bellows clamp to front wheel spindle tie rod and uniformly to inner diameter of tie rod bellows before installation. This allows for toe-in adjustment without twisting tie rod bellows.
   

1. Install tie rod bellows and power steering gear rack tube. Make sure power steering gear rack tube is positioned as shown.
   
   
   Power Steering Gear Rack Tube and Tie Rod Bellows Installation
   
   

pretty decent job ahead first jack up car support with jack stands remove front wheels remove nuts on tie rod ends remove tie rod ends from spindles with tie rod end tool or tap with malet were they sit to loosen them hit the spindle area not the tie rod or tie rod threads then dissconnect power steering lines from steering rack also disconect steering linkage to rack there should be 2 main bolts holding assembly to frame remove them should free rack i know that car may have a unique design were u may have to remove inner tie rod ends first if it has those round bushings that always go bad disconect inner tie rod ends behind engine on top of steering rack then remove rack from wheel well replace those inner tie rod bushings u may be able to leave outer tie rod end connected to spindles and u may be able to get to the sterring rack from behind engine good luck

If this is a rack and pinion type steering, in order to remove the inner tie rods you will first have loosen the jam nut at the outer tie rod end,next unbolt the outer tie rod from the steering knuckle, unscrew the outer tie rod end off (be sure to count how many turns to remove), next remove the inner bellows boot (black boot) from the tie rod / rack and pinion, next is to unscrew the inner tie rod from the rack assembly (the do make a tool for this to make it easier) but if you do not have the tool,you can sometimes use a big pair of channel locks or a big enough wrench to fit on the fitting on the inside of the inner tie rod, and just unscrew the inner tie rod (normal left=loosen, right=tighten). Hope this helps. Would also recommend having it aligned after you are finished.