Oh SNAP!

northcoast · Post by **northcoast** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 8:37 pm

Snapped my inner tie rod out on a logging road. Luckily the road doesn't appear to be in use, at least by vehicles, so I left it there until I can get back next Saturday.

Since I am stuck doing the fix in the field will it be easier to swap the entire rack with inner ties attached or try and replace the single tie rod?

roundeye · Post by **roundeye** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 11:13 pm

all depends on where it broke. if the whole inner socket is still attached, no big deal to just change the tie rod. if, however, you snapped the socket off, and have just the threads left in the rack, may be a little more difficult. best bet would probably be to drill/ ez-out it.

evolutionmovement · Post by **evolutionmovement** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 11:28 pm

Hopefully you can get at the snapped end. The tie rod alone is a lot less potential hardware fighting.

northcoast · Post by **northcoast** » Tue Sep 29, 2009 10:45 pm

The inner tie broke right at the jam nut so I am leaning toward just replacing the tie rod.

What tools to I need to remove/replace? Pickle fork and wrenches?

n2x4 · Post by **n2x4** » Wed Sep 30, 2009 3:19 pm

There's a special tool for inner tierod replacement:

Aside from that, you should be good.

Are there any threads left on the inner tierod on the other end of the jam nut? If it were me, I'd back the nut off and thread whatever is left back into the outer tierod (assuming you can get the broken portion out) and finish the replacement somewhere that's not a logging road

northcoast · Post by **northcoast** » Thu Oct 01, 2009 4:54 pm

Yeah...everyone has one of those lying around.

roundeye · Post by **roundeye** » Thu Oct 01, 2009 5:05 pm

you shouldn't need an inner tie rod tool on a subaru. if you can see the hex/ flat portion from underneath, you can get a wrench on it. it is a great tool, though. I only paid $75 for mine from snap-on, and I can't tell you how easy it makes changing inners. takes about 5 minutes. well worth the money. if you want or need to reuse the outer, don't use a pickle fork- it will destroy the boot and likley the whole end. take the nut off, and hit the knuckle from the side, where the tie rod goes in. it will pop right out with a few hits. this works for most anything with a tapered shaft, like balljoints/ etc. loosen the jam nut with the outer still in the knuckle to hold it. shouldn't be too tough, even on the side of the road.

northcoast · Post by **northcoast** » Fri Oct 02, 2009 12:59 am

n2x4 wrote: Are there any threads left on the inner tierod on the other end of the jam nut? If it were me, I'd back the nut off and thread whatever is left back into the outer tierod (assuming you can get the broken portion out) and finish the replacement somewhere that's not a logging road

There were a couple of threads left on the inner but they were so tweaked I couldn't screw it back into the outer. The outer is in good shape though. Just need to remove the busted inner and install the new one.

northcoast · Post by **northcoast** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 4:47 pm

That was too easy. Crescent wrench and a pair of channel locks was all I needed. Took about 10 minutes total. Hardest part was getting the cotter pin out of the outer tie rod.

n2x4 · Post by **n2x4** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 7:58 pm

Good deal - glad you got it!

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Oh SNAP!

Replace the entire rack assembly or just the inner tie rod that broke?

Oh SNAP!