good stuff, Jim. Thanks.

 

Or, you could use the correct tool, which would make it alot easier.
You could rent this one; http://www.autozone.com/autozone/acc...-Tool/_/N-264v
Or by using this one ya don't have to take off the outer tierod first; http://www.autozone.com/autozone/acc...ier=94645_0_0_

 

Hi Dean. You're right in that the 1st tool makes easy work of the LH side, but it doesn't work for the RH side, because the bracket for the dampener is in the way, which is why Jim's method is very cool. I'm not sure if the 2nd tool would work, though.

 

I had to remove the right side inner tie rod today to replace the steering rack boot. The suggestion of grinding a wrench to fit made me think of an alternate approach. I made an improvised wrench using a scrap piece of 1/4x2" bar stock about 12 inches long. I roughed out an opening slightly under 1.250" wide and 1" deep and then milled it out to 1.280" wide. (If you don't have a milling machine, you could rough it out and then file or grind it to fit.)

This made a nice snug fit on the flats of the inner tie rod and together with a wrench on the rack rod I was able to loosen it fairly easily. All told, it took about 15 minutes to fabricate the makeshift wrench, less time than it would have taken to run to the store to get a wrench to grind down.

 

if anyone goes to order the factory Lexus part online, keep in mind that Lexus does not call it an inner tie rod, but rather an END SUB-ASSY, STEERING RACK

 

I used a plumbing jaw wrench to pop both of my inner tie rod loose. No rental and no custom wrench made. Handling is sold and no more clunk on steering wheel when turning into drive way.

 

could you provide a picture of what this wrench looks like?

 

Go to home depot and ask for a pipe wrench. Or google it, size appropriately.

 

be careful, using a pipe wrench makes it easy to damage the contact surface.

 

I wasn't sure if he meant a regular pipe wrench, because I'd think it would be too wide. The previous posters showed that they had to use a very narrow wrench to fit the RH side.

 

you have to remove the inner tie rod to replace the rack boot?! i need to replace both boots but don't you simply separate the outter rod from the inner, and slide the new boot in?

 

I'm about to do this as well. I have a large aluminum pipe wrench that should work nicely on the left side inner tie rod. I don't know if it'll work on the right but so far, I only need to replace the left one. Luckily, a Discount Tire opened up about a mile from me, so I can get the alignment done on the cheap.

 

I used this to loose both inner tie rod. EZ job. Use it on tie rod body as plumbing pipe.

 

Picture attached

 

After removing the boot and using a cold chisel to unbend the tab washer, I tried to remove the inner tie rod.
My 36 inch pipe wrench didn't give me enough room to get a grip on the inner tie rod. I tried Autozone, but they didn't have either the primary or secondary tool to remove it either. I couldn't get enough torque on it to break it loose with channel locks or vise grips.

I put the vise grips on really tight and used my jack to break the tie rod loose. Pics attached.

This is the Tab Washer after I unbent it.


I used a hammer and cold chisel to unbend the washer.


I used vise grips and a jack to break the tie rod loose.


Close up of where I put the vise grips. They're on the body of the tie rod.