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So i was replacing the outer tie rod end and it wouldn't come off


we even used heat


the tie rod still wont come off and the steering rack bent a little


how screwed am i?

Bend it back, take it to a garage and have them replace it and realign your car

Yes, they can be a PITA.

You may end up replacing the inner tie rod(s) also.

Or a reman. steering rack, if it is cheaper.

I know mine were very resistant to being removed. If only a propane torch was used, oxy-acetylene might get it free. Just be careful not to heat the tie rod, so it twists. Just the tie rod end as much as possible. Even then, the tie rod may not be useable. I had to chase the threads on mine to get the new ends on, they were rusted so badly.

I was told I would probally have to drop the front sub frame and replace the steering rack

Which I don't have the time or money for.. So it creates a huge problem

Ideally id like to get the outer tie rod end off and bend it back

But I don't know what problems that could cause

how much heat? you should get that thing glowing red. that's how much heat is needed to expand the outer metal (outer tie rod) away from the inner metal (inner tie rod). also try heating it up and then touching it with a candle or other wax right where the threads enter the outer tie rod. the heat will draw in the wax and provide less friction. this is a practice used on stuck bleeders on brakes, might work here

why not just replace the outer tie rod end along with the inner Rod.



thats what i had to do when i tried changin my tie rods about 5k miles ago. yeah at 125k miles they were rusted on there. so now i got 2 brand new tie rods and 2 brand new inner rods.


its not too hard to take off the inner rod but you are going to need a second hand to help putting them back in.

If it is bent , bending it back might work, might not. You don't want a bend there when there is a lot of force on the tire in a turn, or w/e situation arises. The bend is going to be a weak point. With enough force, it is going to bend further. Think of a plastic straw: if it has no kinks in it, you can put a fair amount of pressure on the two ends before it gives. If it has a kink, it will collapse easily.