inner tie rods

[padlock470]

??HI Guys first time posting and I'm in a real pickle. The inner tie rods need to be replaced on my 2000 GP SE and my friend who thought we could do it is now stuck . We bought a tool (inner tie rod socket) to replace them with from the automotive store but he thinks that the whole rack needs to be dropped to install new ones or replace the whole rack??? Is their a trick to do this without dropping the rack or replacing the whole rack? Also replacing the Sway bar again do we need to drop the rack for that also???

Any help would be greatly appreciated

[SyntheticShield]

No, and no, LOL

If you have the inner tie rod tool, then you should be able to replace those tie rods, I have that tool and Ive done it on my Grand Prix without having to drop the rack. Those inner tie rods just screw on much the way a nut is screwed onto a stud. It can take a bit of force and you obviously want to take care in how much force you apply, it shouldnt take an insane amount or some large breaker bar or anything like that.

The inner tie rod tool you have, does it get a grip on the tie rod or does it just spin around freely?

As far as the sway bar goes, you dont have to drop anything out to change it out either, at least not that Ive ever heard of. Now it is a bit tricky finagling that thing out of there and it could well help to have both front wheels off, but if you are doing both inner tie rods then you probably already have that done.

It sounds like you have the right tools for the job, so you shouldnt have any trouble getting the parts replaced.

[padlock470]

Thanks for your reply, as for your question

The inner tie rod tool you have, does it get a grip on the tie rod or does it just spin around freely?

No it does not grip on the inner tie rod at all the tie rod is located in a small round plastic housing and the ball of it is located in the plastic housing everytime we try to turn it out it just keeps spining in the plastic housing.

I know we're missing somthing can we take that plastic housing off?

Thanks Again.......

[SyntheticShield]

I didnt have to take anything off except the rubber boot the encompasses the tie rod. There should be a couple of flat spots on the tie rod close to where it connects to the rack and thats what that tool should grab on, like a wrench and spin it off.

I dont know if that plastic housing should or could come off, but it might be worth investigating. The tie rod tool that I have is more of a universal type in that it has several inserts that I could use that were meant to take off various sized tie rods, but thats the only difference I can think of that may be different from what I have compared to yours.

If you can get some good focused pics of what you are seeing, that may help some.

[Zef_66]

I agree that you don't need to drop the rack to change the tie rods. I have done this before and never had an issue. Just remove the wheel, remove the outer tie rod, remove the rubber boot, and then use the innerr tie rod tool to unscrew the inner tie rod.

[GR8racingfool]

That little plastic part threw me for a little bit of a loop the first time I did this.

You just have to push IN or off the plastic part, then that will expose the flange that the remover tool grabs hold of. Just push, and work the plastic piece off the shaft, and leave it on the rack's very end when you replace the inner tie rod. You then just pull it back over the joint of the new replacement tie rod end, and your good to go.

As for the boot, don't even try to reuse the old clamp. Just use a fresh new zip tie, and cut off what hangs off it when you cinch it down. Its just a dust cover, and it just has to be hold on, and in place, it does not have to be super dooper hella tight or anything.

~F~

[Abrasive]

That little plastic part threw me for a little bit of a loop the first time I did this.

Well, maybe if someone would have told you about it first.

What Farns said X2. Just push the plastic "cup" straight back on the shaft and then go to town on that tire rod with the removal tool.

[GR8racingfool]

Well, maybe if someone would have told you about it first.

LOL

Well, whats another phone call asking you anyway. LOL

So those that don't know, asked Jay how to do this, said pretty straight forward, all you need is the tool for sure, and its pretty cut and dry. Got to the point to installing the remover tool, and it was not going on, couldn't figure it out, and was about to cut off that plastic part, but thought I would call, and ask before I do it, and after a while, Jay says oh ya...you have to remove that/or slide that plastic cover off out of the way before the tool goes on. While he was on the phone, I did, and wha-la, pretty easy to do from that point on.

Thanks for the help Jay Got Rob's car all nice and fixed up after his little round-a-bout curb check/accident.

~F~