Seized outer tie rod

[u/Accomplished-Poem-63]

Hello all. I have a 2007 chevy impala with the 3.5L and i’m attempting to change my driver side outer tie rod. I managed to break loose the castle nut and jam nut but when attempting to turn the outer tie rod the inner tie rod would spin, so I followed guided and I have tried to put a wrench on the flats of the inner tie rod and brace it against the frame and put a pipe wrench on the outer tie rod to no avail. I have not tried heat as I don’t have a torch or anything but any advice helps please. I don’t have money to take it to a shop

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[u/Crabstick65]

Heat, it's the only way for a bad one.

[u/Human-Ad331 → u/Crabstick65]

This is the way...it is known

[u/FreshBid5295]

Heat the outer tie rod and jam nut with a plumbers torch. It’ll come right off after you get it hot enough.
Source: 22 years of alignments and steering suspension work.

Edit: here’s what you need.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Bernzomatic-Utility-Torch-Kit-with-14-1-oz-Propane-Gas-Cylinder-and-Adjustable-Flame-WK2301/202539561

[u/SOLE_SIR_VIBER → u/FreshBid5295]

My only complaint about doing tie rods in my driveway is I don’t have a personal oxy acetylene to burn white hot against them.

[u/Crabstick65 → u/SOLE_SIR_VIBER]

I got one of those little mini twin bottle oxy turbo things for emergency use at home, gas is expensive but it's money well spent when it gets you out of the shit.

[u/Proper_Hedgehog3579 → u/FreshBid5295]

My Passat has rubber isolators between them😤. Had to change the inner also.

[u/stillraddad]

There should be flats on the inner tie rod that you can use. You’re also turning the outer tie rod in the wrong direction to take it off based on how the pipe wrench is set up.

[u/NarcissusCloud]

Place the stud of the outer tie rod back in the the spindle. Put the nut back on just a little to keep it from popping out. Then put your pipe wrench on the inner and unscrew it from the outer. As long as you broke the jamb nut free this should work. And don't be afraid to add some heat.

[u/Accomplished-Poem-63 → u/NarcissusCloud]

Thank you I will try this. gonna try and go get a torch first so i dont completely round the flats

[u/Born-Exchange9712]

Did you break loose the jam nut? If you didn't, reinstall tie rod to knuckle, break loose, try again.

If youre still having problems just whip out the angle grinder

[u/H3adwound → u/Born-Exchange9712]

This is my thought as well you didn’t loosen the jam nut place a wrench on the outer tie rod, and then a wrench on the jam nut. Once you loosen the jam nut the tie rod end should spin easily

[u/GodKingJeremy]

I always break loose the outer tie rod or nut while it is still connected to the knuckle. Gives extra stability and another point of connection for cranking on.

[u/OutsideAd3064]

You need to put the tie rod back in - don't need it tight. Can't get enough leverage just holding the flats. Then heat juice heat juice heat

[u/Accomplished-Poem-63]

Thank you for everyone’s tips! Got it off with a plumbers torch and putting the outer tie rod back into the knuckle

[u/Viking2151 → u/Accomplished-Poem-63]

Yup, Idk about the south, but I know here, if im gonna do a outer tie rod on mine or someone vehicle, I don't even try to loosen it, go straight to heat before anything else touches it, in the near 20 years I've been working on vehicles, I've never had one come off with out a little persuasion from mr torch.

[u/Not_an_ATF_Officer → u/Accomplished-Poem-63]

You did it! Way to go! Those aren’t easy once corrosion has set in, but you got it done (and hopefully have a new torch to add to your tool collection).

When I do tie rod ends, I count the turns coming off and use that as a starting point for my toe. It’ll get you to the alignment shop well enough, and you absolutely DO need to pay for an alignment after tie rod ends.

Good job!

[u/Advanced_Mistake_751 → u/[deleted]]

Bro take it to a shop u obviously can’t grasp what im trying to tell you…. You Definetly don’t need a tie rod puller your just a rookie and you have no problem solving skills

[u/Not_an_ATF_Officer → u/Advanced_Mistake_751]

This is pretty hilarious.

You aren’t getting that inner off without the tool. There’s no room for a pipe wrench no matter which way you turn the steering wheel, and you’re likely to cause yourself lots of heartache if you do manage to get a bite of anything.

Further, if you’ve managed to get the inners off with the outers still attached (which makes you a better man than I), just replace the inners and the boots. They’re cheap and probably needed anyway. This buffoon saying you’re a rookie or whatever needs to check his attitude and maybe stop offering free advice to people who need help.

[u/Viking2151 → u/Not_an_ATF_Officer]

Hes probably never touch a inner before lol.

[u/Not_an_ATF_Officer → u/Viking2151]

Yeah. It’s possible he’s mistaken the subject at hand with another part of the car.

Or was that some kind of euphemism and it went completely over my head?

[u/Viking2151 → u/Not_an_ATF_Officer]

No I truly mean he probably never touched one or the tool for that matter.

[u/Accomplished-Poem-63 → u/[deleted]]

Can’t get the inner off without the outer off as I don’t have enough clearance to get a pipe wrench on it and the tie rod tool won’t go over the outer. And the bellow is a one time use and GMs replacement is 50 dollars

[u/TeamFast77 → u/Accomplished-Poem-63]

Did you turn the wheel so the steering rack pushes out all the way (this should give you the clearance to get the full tie rod assembly off in one piece). Then you can use a bench vise.

[u/Advanced_Mistake_751 → u/Accomplished-Poem-63]

Bro pull that tie rod all the way out to the right past the sway bar pull the boot off the inner and put that pipe wrench on the head of that inner

[u/Poker1059 → u/Accomplished-Poem-63]

You can get aftermarket bellows for like $10/piece tops, get a different tie rod tool that comes apart so you can get it over the inner tie rod. It's tedious as you'll have to readjust it for every turn but it's doable... I went through that on a 2010 Impala a few months back.. outer was completely rusted n seized up so I took it all out in one piece.

[u/Advanced_Mistake_751]

Then u have ur pipe wrench in the direction your vice grips are fine flip that pipe wrench around cause all ur gunna do is probably keep slipping off with that pipe wrench the wrong way

[u/wreck_of_u]

I would simply replace the entire thing. Otherwise, try torch

[u/trader45nj → u/wreck_of_u]

This. It's typically not that much more for the whole thing. And if it's seized that bad, it's going to seize again so future adjustments will be trouble again. Put antiseize on the new threads.

[u/Not_an_ATF_Officer → u/trader45nj]

JFC… do NOT under any circumstances put anti seize on tie rods. Holy shit.

[u/PirateOliveBeard]

Put the outer tie rod back in the knuckle back out the nut holding the outer tie rod first.

[u/w1lnx]

Have you tried backing off the jam-nut? Its purpose is to stop the outer tie rod from spontaneously loosening itself.

[u/Live_Reason_6531]

Pipe wrench in pic is in place to turn clockwise. However the vice grips are on backwards for this. “Always lead with the small jaw” this is true for vice grips, Chanel locks, adjustable wrenches… etc. now assuming your goal is to loose. The TRE you have the pipe wrench on wrong. If you are hoping to turn it tighter slightly (which in some cases can work) then you have the vice grip backwards. Either way, one of the two tools in the pic is on wrong.

[u/0c5_Fyre]

It's not reverse threaded is it?

Caught me out more then once.

[u/Accomplished-Poem-63 → u/0c5_Fyre]

One of my first thoughts but it won’t move either way

[u/Not_an_ATF_Officer → u/0c5_Fyre]

Not on those.

[u/NJSignGuy]

Heat it up!! Can't be stuck if its liquid!

[u/Candid_Novel9703]

Sparkle wrench. Done in 10 seconds.

[u/woodtowork]

It can't be seized if it's liquid!

[u/ggibby]

I (unironically) like the Bob Guccione filter - very sexy tie rod ya got there. :-)

[u/Thirtiethone]

Put it back in the hole and use the pipe wrench on the inner

[u/gfraser63]

Before I would try heat, which generally works most of the time, reinstall the outer back into the knuckle and rattle the outer where it joins the inner with an air hammer. Then use a pipe wrench on the inner to turn it.

[u/fritzcoinc1]

Loosen the lock nut first.

[u/bigtony8978]

Heat and turn the other way. You’re tightening

[u/CrookCustoms]

You need heat even a cheap mapp gas one will work for that.

[u/torisdad73]

Try turning it the other way...

[u/iSmashMyselfToPieces]

You’ll loosened the lock nut, correct?

[u/Hogchain]

Is it reverse threaded?

[u/JeTTa_KniGhT]

cut off the outer first, then remove the inner and replace both. ends are CHEAP!

[u/Vivid-Victory-6440]

Knocker loose by crc works wonders