Changing steering rack boots

[Guest]

Long story short - Read your WOF sheet properly before carrying out work.

I read replace CV boots so I did all four because it did need them, go for my re-check and fail again! WTF! He shows me the WOF sheet and the bloo*y thing said steering rack boots. Bugger! What a dumb arrrse.

Anyway. I know this should be easy, have cut the old boots off over my pitt, cleaned up surface rust, painted tie rods to mark position, jacked up, whipped one wheel off and knocked out my left connecting tie rod piece from the hub.

I am trying to unscrew the tie rod end and its stuck as hell but not sure if i'm doing it right. There seems to be a nut butted up against the tie rod end on the thread. Is this one part? Tie rod end/nut, will the hub end unscrew off with that nut attached, or is that a lock nut of sorts?

Do I have to hold tie rod end and unwind nut toward rack end before I can unscrew it from the rod? To make matters worse I only have nut fu**ers as spanners for the sizes I need, I so need to buy a full set again.

I'm a bit desperate, as i'm running out of light and only have a dolphin torch for light then. This would only take ten minutes with the right tools and if I knew the make up of this tie rod. Can anyone suggest anything magical?

[Guest boostin]

Its a 19mm lock nut. Loosen the nut and the tie rod end will unscrew off the rack end. Count the number of turns and put it back the same.

[Guest]

Cheers for that... Another mate just got back to me and said leave the tie rod end on the hub and you can undo the lock nut a lot easier too. There's experience for ya Off to try it now.

[Guest]

Well they are just so damn tight (or a left thread if anyone can confirm) i'm gonna stick the wheel back on and roll her in the garage for the night. Take the Mrs car to work tomorrow and borrow some spanners to take home tomorrow :-\

My nut fu**ers (AKA adjustable spanners) are starting to show signs they are doing their job I'm not risking fu**ing the lock nuts anymore. Soak them in WD40 and give up tonight I think.

If anyone feels sorry for me and is bored tomorrow night

[Guest]

Well it's all done... Quite easy at the end of the day.

Here are some things I learned on the way.

1. Yes it is a 19mm lock nut on the tie rod (thanks boostin).

2. Leave the tie rod attached to the hub end before cracking the lock nut. It's so much easier.

3. Soaking threads at least one night before in WD40 goes a long way in helping you breaking the stuck ones.

4. USE THE RIGHT TOOLS (correct size spanners etc) - Adjustable spanners can kiss my a*se.

5. Count the amount of turns it takes to unwind and remove the tie rod end so it can be placed back in the same position (Again, thanks boostin. No wheel alignment needed).

6. A dose of general purpose grease really assists in getting the tight end of the boot over the shaft.

7. It's not a hard job! If you can work a spanner and have some nous of the general variety... Give it a go and save your $$$.

[DRFVDR]

 gadget said:

Well it's all done... Quite easy at the end of the day.

Here are some things I learned on the way.

1. Yes it is a 19mm lock nut on the tie rod (thanks boostin).

2. Leave the tie rod attached to the hub end before cracking the lock nut. It's so much easier.

3. Soaking threads at least one night before in WD40 goes a long way in helping you breaking the stuck ones.

4. USE THE RIGHT TOOLS (correct size spanners etc) - Adjustable spanners can kiss my a*se.

5. Count the amount of turns it takes to unwind and remove the tie rod end so it can be placed back in the same position (Again, thanks boostin. No wheel alignment needed).

6. A dose of general purpose grease really assists in getting the tight end of the boot over the shaft.

7. It's not a hard job! If you can work a spanner and have some nous of the general variety... Give it a go and save your $$$.

As a Mechanic I almost never ever Use a "crescent" type wrench,and even my R/O spanners are expensive as u get what u paid for mostly in tools (would hate to have to replace my tool kit)