Help removing tie rods from steering rack
03-07-2004, 08:04 PM
#1
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Help removing tie rods from steering rack
Can any one give me some hints as to how to remove the tie rods from the ends of a power steering rack with damaging the rack itself? Here's a picture of what I'm talking about:
Try as I might, I can't get these things to budge. I'm holding the rack with a wrench at both ends to avoid damaging the pinion gear, but the spacing is so far apart that it's hard to apply much pressure. Plus face on the tie rod nuts is so small that its hard to keep the wrench on.
Anybody come up with a clever way to break these free?
Try as I might, I can't get these things to budge. I'm holding the rack with a wrench at both ends to avoid damaging the pinion gear, but the spacing is so far apart that it's hard to apply much pressure. Plus face on the tie rod nuts is so small that its hard to keep the wrench on.
Anybody come up with a clever way to break these free?
03-07-2004, 08:15 PM
#3
Rennlist Member
You may need a bit more than a vise. Sometimes shops put glue in there, and the only way to get the assembly loose is using a blow torch to heat it up and melt the glue.
03-08-2004, 12:34 AM
#6
Addict
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: St. Louis
Posts: 1,176
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My low tech method --- Used an 8"ish pipe wrench on the tie rod nuts while standing on the rack. Using a vice to hold the body of the rack unit is probably better than standing on it I guess. The pipe wrench mars the tie rod end nuts a little, but there doesnt seem to be anything that the marred edges can hurt. I used the pipe wrench to reinstall the tie rod ends when I got the rack rebuilt. The manufacturer of the rack doesnt suggest putting twisting force against the internals of the rack to get the tie rod ends off but at the shop I worked at they always used inner tie rod sockets to break things loose which is exactly what I did on the ground. Try this at your own risk 
03-08-2004, 12:42 AM
#7
Site Sponsor
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: A great big building in the woods, FL.
Posts: 6,527
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes
on
3 Posts
I just pull them with the rack still on the car. Thats the best "vice" you can get. The large wrench with a even larger cheater bar works for me. They come lose all at once so watch your knuckles.
Trending Topics
03-08-2004, 01:12 AM
#8
Burning Brakes
I have done it with a vice and on the car. I had a real hard time getting the vice to hold it. On the car is the best. I think it takes a 1 1/4 wrench which might also be a 30mm.
03-08-2004, 01:25 AM
#9
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Originally posted by Legoland951
There is no mechanical task so great that brute force and ignorance cannot overcome. If brute force does not work, apply more ignorance. Then increase both in equal quantity until task is done or project is destroyed
There is no mechanical task so great that brute force and ignorance cannot overcome. If brute force does not work, apply more ignorance. Then increase both in equal quantity until task is done or project is destroyed
Thanks for the ideas, guys. I'll take another wack at it (maybe literally) in the next day or two.
03-08-2004, 04:55 AM
#11
Advanced
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Seattle
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Make sure you chisel out that peened down area.. that smashed bit in the groove. And when re-installing them, make sure you re-peen the ring into that groove, thats what keeps the tie rod from coming un-done.
I just did this a few weeks ago while on the car.. Not too bad of a job.
I just did this a few weeks ago while on the car.. Not too bad of a job.
