inner tie rod issues

so i went to aufulzone and got an inner tie rod tool. I told him it was for a GM w-body vehicle. I get home start working on the car and what do ya know...Its the wrong F-ing tool . So im trying to figure out where you guys got your tools and what it looks like. Mine was a hex head. definitely doesn't fit. Please help my car is in pieces outside.

Ive had mine for so long I dont remember where I got mine but I want to say I got it at Pep Boys. Mine is a GM specific inner tie rod tool, but has several inserts that look like the end of an open end wrench that fit into the tool to fit the various sized inner tie rods.

Thats probably what i need then.

anyone know if inner tie rods need torquing?

I checked AllData and did not see any specifications for torque on them. When I put mine on I just tightened them as tight as I could without twisting the rack shaft they screw down on or until it just started to twist a little.

Thanks Scott, I appreciate your help. Did you hold the rack itself with a wrench to prevent the rack from twisting? I seem to be getting different responses.

No, I didnt hold it, really there's no need to since its already bolted to the subframe. Really, overall, its not that difficult a job, dont let people make you overthink the work (dont mean that offensively, just saying I know you are trying to gather all the info you can and make sure you do it right). The hardest part for me was getting those blasted clamps off on the boots for the inner tie rods and then clamping them back down.

I have two suggestions for you in that regard. Worm gear clamps or zip ties. I dont see there being enough room to get the CV clamping tool that would be needed in there to put back on the OEM style clamps. If it were off the car, then sure, otherwise its just too cramped, so just use zip ties or some type of regular hose clamp to secure the boots in place. They are essentially just a dust shield.

There is also some kind of breather tube in there, though I do not recall what it is attached to. I want to say it was attached in some way to the dust boots but dont quote me on that, but make sure it goes back to where it came from. I didnt think of that earlier (been a while since I replaced mine) but it would not have caught you off guard or anything like that.

lol yeah this is my first time doing inner tie rods, and yeah i want them to be perfect lol. The mechanic was basically bending me over, way too much $$$ to do this job. Anyways yes i did see that breather tube on there, and I have a fresh bag of zip ties finally getting some use. Thanks for clearing all this up for me Scott.

Not a problem bud. I love to see guys/gals that dive in like this that get the same level of frustration I do at times with what the dealers/mechanic shops charge.

Just take your time. One of the things I did early on in my adventures with cars is that I would take out a note pad and make notes on ANYTHING that I thought I might have a hard time remembering or seemed in some way odd to me. Now, in addition to that, I can also take out a digital camera and I use it a LOT. Im just anal that way plus I do so often now with an eye on doing a write up on how to do a particular task. But the digital camera is a perfect assistant as you can take a picture of something as it sits, after you take the bolt off, after you take the part off, every single step of the way and then you have a visual record just in case your notes missed something.

Get in the habit of doing this and before long you'll be able to do much of the work with your eyes closed.

With regards to the zip ties, I do believe the boots fit down into some type of groove so you dont have to pull them tight to the point that your squeezing blood out of a turnip but just make sure they are securely there and taught. You dont want it so super tight that it begins to eat into the rubber boot.

all data or shop keys willl have your awnsers sir =] and as far as the tool id say hit up a advanced auto parts store if theres 1 by you =]

Well, i finished the job, i shed some blood and accidentally punched myself in the eye trying to get those stupid metal clamps off the inner tie rods I also had to hacksaw off the original tie rod end. If anyone is trying to do this repair DO NOT break those little white plastic covers that slide over the inner tie rod bolt, they are impossible to find. On another note stay away from outer tie rods from Intense, i bought them because they were $25 a piece, well the boot on it riped when I took it out of the package, so i went to a local parts store and bought Moog's , even thought they were $50 a piece it was worth it for how well they are made. What a day

Originally Posted by GTPJOE90

all data or shop keys willl have your awnsers sir =] and as far as the tool id say hit up a advanced auto parts store if theres 1 by you =]

Thanks Only if it was so easy to get that tool. I went to 5 different places for this tool, no one had it. I finally found it at a THUL auto parts store, and they had one in stock.

Glad to hear you got it all done. Sorry about the injuries though. I bet that was a learning experience.