Tie rod removal 911 SC

[dynosoar1]

Hey guys....removing tie rods from the steering rack is a nightmare....sorry if this is a repost but just looking to get a quick answer on the best way to get stock tie rods out. Cant get a wrench on the end....can't remove bolt from inner end because bolt hits against body wall as you pull it out (where it goes through the rubber bushing). Figured if I removed rod and outer end I could use the tie rod tube tool thingamajigger...lol. Please help!

[75 911s]

Pro: Drop entire rack and do it on a bench.

Shade tree: Assume you are installing turbo tie rods and you can trash the originals. Grab a pair of big a$$ channel locks. Grip the end of the tie rod near the outside of the car. Put a cheater pipe over one end of the channel locks and grip both handles and cheater bar together with your left hand. Now use your other hand to pull up on the far end of the cheater bar. That will get 'er loose from the rack. This will damage the original tie rods with tracks where the channel locks were FYI.

[dynosoar1]

Thanks Duane...I will give that a try....the shade tree method that is! I feel like I'm going to damage the rack. Does the rack need to be set so its not extended to avoid damaging it with all this torque?

[Ayles]

I just did this last month. Absolutely not fun, I did the did the shade tree method with a pipe wrench. It's tough wrenching but it will go. I did one side then waited a couple days to do the other. be sure to leave the inner boot retainer springs in place. It will make life easier when you install the new boots.

[Mike Andrew]

+ 1 on the pipe wrench.

[universeman]

I got one side off and gave up on the other one, took it to my indy who put it up on the rack and used a 6-foot bar...I never could have done that on jack stands safely!

[Catorce]

Huh? I had no trouble at all. Here's how you do it.

1. Undo the end on the wheel hub, press out with a tie rod puller.
2. Cut the boot off down the center running left to right. You won't need it since new kits contain the boots.
3. You will see where the tie rod fork joins to the nut that goes into the steering rack.
4. Where the steering rack ends, and the tie rod begins, you will see a washer with indentations in it.
5. Grab a big drift and a 5 pound sledge and position the drift tip on one of these indentations. Hit it.
6. Nut will turn.

That's why you remove the boot, folks, because you can see the thick washer with the slots that is DESIGNED so you can remove this connection without using channel locks or any other device.

Extremely simple to do with the rack on, plenty of room.

[Driven97]

I did it with the rack off, but used a spanner wrench that was sitting around in my garage on the washer with the slots.

[75 911s]

Originally Posted by Catorce

Huh? I had no trouble at all. Here's how you do it.

1. Undo the end on the wheel hub, press out with a tie rod puller.
2. Cut the boot off down the center running left to right. You won't need it since new kits contain the boots.
3. You will see where the tie rod fork joins to the nut that goes into the steering rack.
4. Where the steering rack ends, and the tie rod begins, you will see a washer with indentations in it.
5. Grab a big drift and a 5 pound sledge and position the drift tip on one of these indentations. Hit it.
6. Nut will turn.

That's why you remove the boot, folks, because you can see the thick washer with the slots that is DESIGNED so you can remove this connection without using channel locks or any other device.

Extremely simple to do with the rack on, plenty of room.

Thanks for this. I think using a drift and a punch didn't cross my mind when I did mine. I don't remember the notches on the nut, but of course they are probably there.

[dynosoar1]

Originally Posted by Catorce

Huh? I had no trouble at all. Here's how you do it.

1. Undo the end on the wheel hub, press out with a tie rod puller.
2. Cut the boot off down the center running left to right. You won't need it since new kits contain the boots.
3. You will see where the tie rod fork joins to the nut that goes into the steering rack.
4. Where the steering rack ends, and the tie rod begins, you will see a washer with indentations in it.
5. Grab a big drift and a 5 pound sledge and position the drift tip on one of these indentations. Hit it.
6. Nut will turn.

That's why you remove the boot, folks, because you can see the thick washer with the slots that is DESIGNED so you can remove this connection without using channel locks or any other device.

Extremely simple to do with the rack on, plenty of room.

This sounds like a great idea...I will definitely try this method when I'm home from work tonight.....thanks for the next alternative! I will update as soon as I attempt this.

[dynosoar1]

Originally Posted by Catorce

Huh? I had no trouble at all. Here's how you do it.

1. Undo the end on the wheel hub, press out with a tie rod puller.
2. Cut the boot off down the center running left to right. You won't need it since new kits contain the boots.
3. You will see where the tie rod fork joins to the nut that goes into the steering rack.
4. Where the steering rack ends, and the tie rod begins, you will see a washer with indentations in it.
5. Grab a big drift and a 5 pound sledge and position the drift tip on one of these indentations. Hit it.
6. Nut will turn.

That's why you remove the boot, folks, because you can see the thick washer with the slots that is DESIGNED so you can remove this connection without using channel locks or any other device.

Extremely simple to do with the rack on, plenty of room.

Success!!! Catorce I owe a six pack of your choice bro! Why is this the first I've heard of this method.....so quick....so simple. Thank you so much! Now we'll see if I can get the turbo tie rods on correctly...lol! I really don't like the lack of castle nuts and pin on the outer tie rod ends...I will likely double up the nuts or use a bit of medium loctite.

[dynosoar1]

Getting the boot on the rack with the spring retaining clip was ....uhhhh......fun. Went very easy as long as there was lube on the rack for the boot to slide over.....then using a small pick tool ...HF $.99...put on the bottom of the spring retainer and work around to the top.....then ROTATE THE BOOT and continue to put the spring on the boot from below. Eventually the spring seats all the way around and you don't have to pull your hair out trying to get the retainer around the boot behind the rack!

[Ayles]

I did the same exact thing! Worked so wo well. I watched someone fight with it for a long time. With the pick and a little lube you can do it in a couple minutes.