Decided to tackle my tie rods today. First off I couldn't get the wheels off since the refurb meant the lacquer had jammed them on. Managed to get the nearside off (the one without play) and it was easy. Outer tie Rod popped off no trouble, and the inner tie rod tool I got off eBay for £12.99 worked like a dream.
The other side has been a different story. I don't think it's ever been replaced since new - 14 years. The outer rod is seized solid. In the end, I got enough of a gap to be able to saw through the lower part, and was expecting to just pop it off, but it's solid.
Looking at it, there's absolutely nothing that should be stopping it from just popping off, but I've been hitting it with a bloody great mallet for ages and it hasn't budged. I've sprayed Plus Gas in there but nothing is happening.
Has anyone else had this problem? How did you solve it? I can pick up one of the fork style separators tomorrow, but don't know if there's anything else I should be trying. Is it common for them to fuse here?
Thanks in advance - I'm in a proper panic at the moment so any help would be super welcome.
The other side has been a different story. I don't think it's ever been replaced since new - 14 years. The outer rod is seized solid. In the end, I got enough of a gap to be able to saw through the lower part, and was expecting to just pop it off, but it's solid.
Looking at it, there's absolutely nothing that should be stopping it from just popping off, but I've been hitting it with a bloody great mallet for ages and it hasn't budged. I've sprayed Plus Gas in there but nothing is happening.
Has anyone else had this problem? How did you solve it? I can pick up one of the fork style separators tomorrow, but don't know if there's anything else I should be trying. Is it common for them to fuse here?
Thanks in advance - I'm in a proper panic at the moment so any help would be super welcome.