inner tie-rod removal - 36mm spanner?

[Russianblue]

any suggestions on getting the inner tie rods off the steering rack? do you just use a 36mm open end wrench and wedge it in there however you can? or is there a special tool/alternate method?

[Ricky Bobby]

I think its 38mm first things first.

I would loosen the inner clamps off the boot, then slide the boot forward to expose the inner tie rod "nut", 90% sure its 38mm.

Then just counterclockwise with a wrench to loosen.


Really nothing special for the tie rods, I did both mine in an hour with a beer and smoke break.

[Russianblue]

i just checked. you are right. it's 38mm.

so it's not that bad to get a 38mm in there i suppose. looked like it'd be a pain to clear the subframe. did you even take off the plastic panel? i have an alignment appointment in the morning and gotta get this done TONIGHT. so i am going hunting for a 1.5 inch or 38mm wrench!

also Ricky Bobby, I appreciate all your input. If i could give you rep points i would!

[Russianblue]

it was 38mm. bought a big ass crescent wrench at autozone. got em changed in about an hour. I might be driving sideways to the dealership for the alignment tomorrow though!

easy repair with the exception of the rod boot Oetiker clamp. i just left them off and will get the dealership to install tomorrow.

[X5SND]

^^ Aren't those inner clamps fun?! I know mine were subject to a few 'choice' words!

[Ricky Bobby]

Originally Posted by Russianblue

it was 38mm. bought a big ass crescent wrench at autozone. got em changed in about an hour. I might be driving sideways to the dealership for the alignment tomorrow though!

easy repair with the exception of the rod boot Oetiker clamp. i just left them off and will get the dealership to install tomorrow.

Glad to hear you got it finished! and nope I didn't remove any plastic panels, I too used a big ass crescent (38mm is not readily available)

As far the clamps, I CAREFULLY loosened them with a flathead, so as not to deform the clamp too much, then I literally just put them and the boots back on and used vice grips to tighten the fuckers down.


However, someday probably in the spring my OCD will get the best of me and I will replace both oetiker clamps with new ones

[upallnight]

Special tools makes life so easy.

[Russianblue]

Originally Posted by X5SND

^^ Aren't those inner clamps fun?! I know mine were subject to a few 'choice' words!

damn straight! but i cheated a little bit.

since i was headed to the dealership this morning for the alignment, i just left the clamps off completely. told the service advisor..."while he's in there.....can you get him to clamp the inner tie rod boots?" LOL.

laughing now. that will probably cost me $64.

the special tool would have been nice but it was pretty easy with the crescent wrench. very easy in fact. the hardest part was marking the old rods (i did mine with spray paint), disassembling both sets, removing old boots and transferring over. not difficult, just a pain.

i thought the alignment would be a LOT further off than it was but it wasnt bad at all. the control arm R&R knocked it out WAY more.

just like every other repair....if i had to do it again it would take me half the time.

[Doru]

Originally Posted by upallnight

Special tools makes life so easy.

What is that tool called, and where you get it?

[trm122]

Originally Posted by Doru

What is that tool called, and where you get it?

Inner tie rod tool. Any auto parts store that loans or rents tools will have one.