Help! jammed on tie rod, can't get off

Bart_dood · 11-02-2008, 06:48 PM

Does the plate that the locking wrench fits on rotate in the regular way? (see pic). If so I'm having a hell of a time trying to get this stupid thing off, I can barely get any purchase as the wrench will only fit on in 4 places and all of them seem to be no good.
I've been at this for 2 hours with the pelican tool and various pipe wrenches, I managed to get somewhat of a turn on it but it seems to be so tight I'm twisting the whole steering rack in the process?

Grrrrrrr....

Bart_dood · 11-02-2008, 06:49 PM

Oh and the bolt at the end in yellow seems to be install in the wrong direction? no matter where I place the rack it crashes into the body? did someone at the factory drink too much afternoon pilsner back in 1988?

rattlsnak · rattlsnak's Garage

you are turning it in the right direction, and they are usually stuck like yours. Are you reusing them or going with turbo ends? I usually use a big pair of channel locks and grab the big outer ring (not the portion on the inner side where the spanner wrench would fit)and yank and twist!

Bart_dood · 08:48 PM

I am replacing them with turbo tie-rods, EDIT: finally got the damn thing off...used a pipe wrench and a load of torque..

SteveinTO · 11-02-2008, 09:01 PM

Maybe I give up too easy, but it's much easier laid out on the floor. A bit more work, but less agravato. After 20 years the rack innards need to feel some love and it's easier to re-fit the springy boot clamps that everyone complains about.

Bart_dood · 11-02-2008, 09:10 PM

How did you find the inner mechanism that contains the spring plate thing for the rack? was it worth cleaning and re-greasing it?

The inner springy clamp was a little tricky to put back on, but not impossible, tomorrow night I'll get to work on the other side, I reckon it will be easier now I've done one.

SteveinTO · 11-04-2008, 08:17 PM

Actually on my '82 I found the inside of the rack wasn't bad. The grease was still....greasy. Probably because it's been a California car all it's life. I still scrubbed it out and soaked everything and re-greased with that stuff used in CV joints. I thought the rack innards were in surprisingly good repair given zero maintenance. I've seen others where the grease had turned to crusty, rancid peanut butter when the bellows had deteriorated and moisture was left to it's own devices.

Without removing the rack, you might be able to remove the big cover plate under the car and remove that two bolt cover plate on the rack and inject some fresh grease inside with a hypodermic needle grease adapter. Then work the rack lock-to-lock a couple times. That would at least give a view of what's going on inside the rack. If I recall I had to cut out a new gasket to get a good seal. The blue stuff in the picture is just a light wipe of Hylomar.

Kudos for changing out the tie rods and getting things right under there. Be careful under the car.

Bart_dood · 08:26 AM

I finally got both the tie rods changed tonight, took me 3 nights after work to complete the entire thing. I didn't remove that metal cover plate in the middle as the grease on the rack at both sides seemed in good shape, I did clean it off and apply liberal amounts of fresh grease and worked it into the rack. I also put plenty of grease on the new tie rod joints and worked that in on my work bench before I assembled them on the car.
I won't get a chance to drive the car tonight to try out the new turbo tie-rods but I'm looking forward to it tomorrow!
Those bolts that hold on the metal skid plate and anti-roll bar mounts were an absolute pig to get back in, its amazing how much time you waste on just a part that is poorly designed and awkward to assemble.
I use a beefy screw jack to lift my car, when I need to lift both sides I use a hydraulic on the other side and put a jack stand under as a safety measure too.

EDIT: drove my car this morning to work, feels tighter and more stable on the highway, alignment is off just a tiny bit so I will adjust it this evening.

rattlsnak · rattlsnak's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bart_dood

EDIT: drove my car this morning to work, feels tighter and more stable on the highway, alignment is off just a tiny bit so I will adjust it this evening.

Its off ALOT further than you think if you're eyballing it! Are you measuring it yourself, or taking it to a shop?

old man neri · 11-05-2008, 08:34 PM

I just did this tonight, I found it pretty easy actually.

I had a friend help me for the first little bit. We had a hoist. To get the old tie rods off he twisted/turned the tie rod while I hit that funny round thing at the end with 4 cut outs with a chisel. Bang-bang-bang...and it's loose. Steering feels a lot lighter at low speeds. Now it's off to the alignment shop.