Thread: How likely are my inner tie rods to be ruined?

After a lengthy period of a business refusing to honor a price match and two phone calls to customer service, I do believe the tire shop I've been with finally got me back.

Monday I went in for an alignment and found out my trailing arm was damaged, so I replaced it. This morning I took it back and upon the car being returned to me the service writer claimed that my tie rod jamb nuts were seized and they had to heat them up, and as a result they were likely "welded in place" (his exact words) and the vehicle likely wouldn't be able to be aligned again.

I have spoken with the store manager which became heated after I let the BS word slip in reference to applying that much heat to my tie rods, and I'm taking it back in the morning. However I am concerned even if they get the nuts loose again (most likely a short term fix as they will re-"weld" themselves to the inner tie rod upon cooling) that the structural integrity of my inner tie rods is ruined.

Seeing as how they're only 13mm thick at the thickest point, would any of you be comfortable with anything other than a replacement of both inner and outer tie rods?

I think you misread. This past Monday they claim there was no issue other than that the trailing arm. Front jamb nuts were in perfect condition 2 months ago.

They claimed, as in actually said that the nuts were most likely welded in place as a direct result of them heating them up. and the front couldn’t be aligned again which was the primary issue. They did a price match on a competitors alignment package then took it back after they noticed I was doing all my own work as if I owed them something.

Did the outer tie rods 2 months ago and the jamb nuts didn’t even need penetrating oil. Now penetrating oil won’t even yield any play in the jamb nuts. They heated them entirely too much.

I went in this morning and the store manager wasn’t there. They claimed they have had to use heat on the jamb nuts for the past year and a half which only accounts for like 3 alignments.

I also checked out the tie rods and see no evidence of black soot or blueing so I doubt they used heat, I’m leaning towards red loc-tite which requires something like 450F to remove. Is that too hot for the nuts/tie rods to handle?

Alright that was a dumb question, of course high grade components can handle heat. I’m gonna be grabbing a propane torch next week and working them loose myself, I’ll also be pushing through any available venues a full refund.