how to get tie rods off...

[belld]

I am having trouble getting the drivers side tie rod off. It doesn't seem to be rusted on the outside (the passengers side came off fine). So far I have been putting PB Blast on it and then I turned the tightening nut all the way back up the rod so I could use it to "leverage" the rod so I could try to turn the end of the rod off. I cant keep a wrench (they slip off) the long end of the tie rod... any ideas... Thanks

[Tim]

Have you tried a pipe wrench? I've found that they usually work when all else fails.

[25Horseplay]

Are you trying to get them out of the hub or unscrew them off the steering rod? It sounds like you are trying to unscrew them. Try useing a set of vise grips if your ends are rounded off.

[belld]

tie rod help

wow! you guys are fast! Thanks.. will try both suggestions.... what about heating it with a butane torch?

[Tim]

Heating it with a torch may weaken the metal (if it's tempered, not sure) and possibly destroy the bellows covering the inner tie rod, so use that only as a last resort.

[htchbck]

I'm assuming you're talking about the tie rods on the little blue. The reason the passenger side one came off easier is because I had taken it off a few months ago to install the escort tie rod ends for the aspire swap. I never could get the drivers side one off though so I ended up putting the passenger side one back on as well. When I got the passenger side one off I used an 18" pipe wrench on the tie rod end itself and a large pair of vice grips on the tightening nut. That apparently wasn't enough for the drivers side one though cause I never did get it to move at all.

[belld]

thanks everyone- just got the rod off- Tim I used your suggestion of the pipe wrench... is there a way to replace those with urethane bushings instead of the rubber/grease boots?

[wrestler3025]

Jeesh htchbck, did you forget to eat your Wheaties the day you tried to get it off? hehehehe

[belld]

I used a huge 3ft pipe wrench......