Help. Please? Tie rod removal.

[Dauner]

I am trying to remove tie rod on my 1989 Carrera 3.2. I think i have read for nearly 2 hours the dozens of posts on turbo tie rod upgrade. I just don't know what i am doing or what is going on. I have tie rod end removed from steering knuckle. When i turn tie rod with pipe wrench, i can get it to spin with difficulty, but the very end with the spanner notches is not spinning. I thought it was one assembly? Everywhere in forums says just turn tie rod ccw. But some people say cold chisel and hammer in spanner notch to remove. 101 projects pictures show spanner part as part of tie rod assembly? Is the spanner portion actually a separate nut? I have both bentley and 101 book. My apologies for my seemingly super silly question. I have learned in the past, if things are not going as people describe, there may be something wrong.

Original thread. Tie Rod & Ball Joint replacement questions



Thanks,

Mark

[kuba_kuba]

Keep going - turning the tie rod with pipe wrench. The spanner bit is essentially a locknut.

[john walker's workshop]

loosen the "spanner" nut with a hammer and punch in one of the notches. i use an air hammer and a somewhat pointed bit.

[Dauner]

Excellent. Thank you!

[SLR]

Yep been there dune that, I to used air chisial on the lock nut thingy, the flat washer looking nut with the notches around the outside. Or use a hamer and punch. When it is loos the control arm comes off easy.

[FL911SC]

I was able to get the left side off with a pipe wrench but has to use an air chisel on the right side. Like you I, even thought I could get it to turn a bit, the play in it wouldn't allow the nut to break loose. Two quick "taps" with the air chisel and it was off.

[Dauner]

I have it off, but don't know where the locknut was on the threads prior to removal so i can set length of arm? From "clean / dirty" it looks like it was basically almost all the way threaded on, with maybe only a half thread looking like exposed to elements with dry dirt. Nut spun incredibly freely. During my removal is it possible that locknut could have moved? When i look at the untouched driver side, it also appears that the locknut is basically threaded almost all of the way. Barely a thread.

Thanks,

Mark

[john walker's workshop]

after all that work, just get turbo tie rods. then you don't have to worry about the inner adjustment. a spacer washer, loctite and tighten it up.

[88911coupe]

Having a hard time getting the tip of the air chisel point any where near the notches in the lock nut...does the front roll bar HAVE to come off to do this?