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So I spent a few hours today changing my tie rods (on my 2004 Dodge Stratus SE with 109,000 miles. I sprayed them down with PB blaster the night before, applied heat with a bernzomatic (since it’s all I had for that), and even tried using a specialty tie rod removal socket. I got no where. I got the jam nuts backed off, but it was like the tie rods were fused together with rust.
I ended up cutting the inner tie rod off with an angle grinder so that I could get the boot and removal tool on the inner:
Would using an acetylene torch have helped in this case?
I have the whole thing back together (both sides). I still need to get it aligned, but I got it fairly close to where it should be.
Thank you for the advice!
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Acetylene always helps in situations like these. The problem, sometimes, is that rust can still get down through those threads. There’s a pretty good chance you’d still have struggled to bust those outers free. Considering you didn’t have the acetylene available, I think you did fine for the circumstances.
I make my own penetrating fluid. 50/50 mix of acetone and automatic transmission fluid. The atf helps to both lube and brake down rust scale. The acetone evaporates very fast, which helps draw the atf into the joint deeper.
I would heat up the joint very well, then squirt the lube in liberally. After some soaking it should work loose. I however would have just cut it in two as you did or buy a new.pair of boots.
There is a tool made by Lisle that looks like an exhaust clamp with teeth, its made to remove the inner tie rod. I have one and I love it.This is the tool I used to remove the inners once cut:
http://www.amazon.com/Mayhew-29910-Speedy-Universal-Inner/dp/B005I5GLCS
It’s expensive, but it worked flawlessly on my tie rods (which are machined round with no wrench flats).
Thanks!
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