Stuck Tie Rod End

[minifridge1138]

Hey everyone,

Some of you may have seen my other thread where I was trying to get my steering wheel centered with the tires.

I thought i had it, but when I drove the car it was still off a bit.
I just tried to fix the issue, but one of the tie-rods is stuck and refuses to rotate. It was fine 48 hours ago.

Any ideas what I can do to fix this?

Thanks!

 

[6880 Mike]

...Any ideas what I can do to fix this?...

FWIW: take her to a qualified alignment shop and have a four wheel alignment done. They will center the steering wheel first thing before they get going on anything else.

 

[Vettehead Mikey]

Wish I'd said that!

 

[gmjunkie]

FWIW: take her to a qualified alignment shop and have a four wheel alignment done. They will center the steering wheel first thing before they get going on anything else.

They Will?????:ugh:ugh:ugh Most of the time a Toe and Go Artist will!!Camber First,Caster Next, Toe and Center the Steering Wheel!! Now to answer the question, With a Question!! What did you use to turn the collar???Vice Grips,Pipe Wrench, Big pair of Channel Lock Pliers?? If so Loosen both clamps up quite a bit and stick a screw driver in the slot in the adjusting collar between the tie rod ends and pry it open a bit!! Some times you can use a Heavy Duty Brake adjustment spoon Or just go the the parts store and get a Tie rod wrench!!You can find a Cheap one for $10-15 maybe less!!Sometimes if you put the heavy on them it will squeeze the collar and make them tight!!

 

[minifridge1138]

I used Chanel lock pliers. I soaked it in liquid wrench and i'm going to try again.

I may have to invest in the tie rod wrench.
Thanks for the ideas!

 

[minifridge1138]

No luck!

Tried all types of lubricants and several different wrenches.

Any other ideas?

 

[gmjunkie]

No luck!

Tried all types of lubricants and several different wrenches.

Any other ideas?

Can you see in the slot of the collar?? Is one of the tie rod ends bottomed out in the collar?? If so you will have to take the tie rod off and run the other one in and re adjust because some Nimrod has put a tie rod end on it and didn't center them!!

 

[minifridge1138]

how would I know if it is bottomed out in the collar?

 

[gmjunkie]

how would I know if it is bottomed out in the collar?

Through the long slot of the collar you can see the threads of the tie rod ends!!