Inner tie rod removal

[69Boss302]

I'm trying to get the inner tie rod off. I've got the tool but there is an issue. There is no place for the tool to mount to the tie rod. The end that screws into the steering gear is completely smooth. On the replacement piece and even on the Ford service manual it shows a divot for the tool.

The Chiltons manual says to remove the entire rack and pinion from the subframe. It also goes on to say "position the rack and pinion so that several teeth of the rack are exposed"



umm...help?

 

[eepals]

I remembered this awhile back.

http://www.contour.org/ceg-vb/showthread.php?t=29286&highlight=tie+rod+tool

 

[69Boss302]

Thanks. What did you use to search for that? Because I searched inner tie rod and only came up with tie rod ends. meh, w/e...

Well,
I got the US General tool set from Harbor Freight for $50 today.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/photos/96500-96599/96558.gif
But I'll be damned if I'm going to pay another $70 for a different tool just to get the OEM one off. There has to be another way.

 

[Danef150]

I have a 00 Cougar and my inner tie rods were smooth like you say. I used large channel locks to remove mine. Worked just fine. It put some marks on the old Tie rods but i was replacing them so it wasnt a big deal. Also the new ones had the grooves in them allready. Dont waste your $ on an expensive tool.

 

[hmouta]

u need 2 tools. the pic u posted is to install the new inner tie rod so u can correctly torque it. the tool to remove is on ebay and worked like a charm for me.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mult...Z260304638606QQptZMotorsQ5fAutomotiveQ5fTools

 

[99Mystique ATX]

Or do what we did to the beater and weld it all together and use a pipe wrench to break it free... Oh man, good times...

 

[Dyoel182]

I think autozone offers both tools in their loaner program.

 

[hmouta]

when i checked autozone they didnt have the removal tool. its something i dont think most places will have. the installer they have is similar to the one pictured except they are double ended hex so they only have 2 sizes... Double end design fits 1-3/16" hex and 1-5/16" hex. also the new ford tie rods arent hex, they have 2 flat sides so the loaner tool wont work either. sux having to buy both but they did work perfectly. added a very small amount of medium loctite to the threading too. work very quickly to get them screwed in then torqued and let the car sit overnite

 

[qbcsvt]

Autozone did not have the tool needed for the Smooth Inner Tie Rod Circle(@ least mine did not!)

I did mine in such a ghetto way... Since no friggin tools. Saw Zawed up to the part that needs screwin tapped in a big socket and ratchet'd it out. LOL The new one I took a cheapo wrench and angled(bended) it to where I wanted it with a torch.

If ya gotta ya gotta. But the other options seem much better. Especially that ebay one!

- amyn