Tie rod end replacement suggestions

This afternoon I need to stop by Advance and pick up their loaner inner tie rod tool to get that out of the way. If memory serves me correctly, I recall the default size for it was 42mm. I'll verify and post back. I need to get everything ready to change my inner and outers on the 4th.

Over the past 10 years, I've done 5 inner/outer tie rod replacements on Infiniti/Nissan products using that tool. Its been over 2 years since I last used it. I think I have a good locking crescent that is narrow enough to hold the rack while removing the inner tie rod. I remember needing a narrow tool for that. Though it seemed to already have the tools to do the job. I sometimes don't remember much about a repair job if everything falls into place. It's only the PITA projects that I can't forget. Ha!

 

Matt, Thank you so much for posting these!! I've got the same issue with the current fittings. No way to get to them without removing the tires.
I wasn't aware that these existed. Much Appreciated.

 

Here's a picture of the Advance Auto loaner tool with the 42mm attachment.

Drive it with a 1/2 drive ratchet and/or torque wrench on the end.

UPDATE: THIS TOOL DID NOT WORK. IT WOULD NOT CLEAR THE INNER TIE ROD BALL SOCKET. I could not use it in the end.

 

No worries brother. I try to help where I can

 

Picked up this set of open-end wrenches from Harbor Freight with 20mm, 21mm, 22mm, 23mm, 24mm, 26mm, 27mm, 28mm, 29mm, 30mm, 32mm, 33mm, 34mm, 35mm, And 36mm.

These wrenches are thin compared to my other open end wrenches. The 32mm measured 7mm thick. So it will be thin enough to fit on the rack. I will need to use a cheater pipe to get leverage with these.

I can use some of the other sizes for different cars.

 

Totally off topic (but it's my thread so I can do that)... I see you're from Central AR. How close to Hot Springs?

 

Roughly 80 miles. A little over an hour away.

 

My Grandparents lived in a little town called Bismark (not far from Malvern) when I was young. We used to go back every summer while my Mom was doing summer school to get her Master's Degree at Henderson State (in Arkadelphia) then my Grandparents moved to Caddo Valley for a long time.

I also lived in Hot Springs for a couple years back in the early 2000s

 

Time for a little Tacoma love fest

 

That nice country down there. I learned how to water ski on Lake Hamilton. I grew up in West LR. It was less than an hour drive from there. We had some close friends with relatives who live there so it fun to go visit and hang out around Hot Springs in the summer.

The state recently legalized casino gambling at Oaklawn. I think they are hoping it will bring back tourism like the old days.

 

Hot Springs is nice. Wouldn't be opposed to moving back. (to get out of the stinkhole they call California) But my line of work, I need to be in a place where they build a lot of houses. Arkansas has never been a place that builds big developments.

 

True. The biggest thing going on now is in the North West corner of the state with Bentonville, Rogers, Springdale, Fayetteville, Bella Vista, and So. Mo. That area is a whole different world nowadays.

 

I’ve got to move out of California too!, I can’t take much more of the politikin’ here. One day I’ll move to Bora Bora or Abu Dabi. Thread=right off the tracks, lmao.

 

I hear ya brother!

 

Matt - I've got to get in my little NWA story in here before leaving this one.

Ok so NWA has been extremely fortunate in having a bunch of money land in the area. I like to refer to it as the "the rich folks up in NWA."

On one of my recent trips up, the Ferrari club must have been having an outing. There were four driving along in a row. I get to see some Maserati's, GTRs, you name it expensive sports cars when I visit.

Yep. That's Bentonville AR -- where the F-150 and Ferrari converge. One of my other car club buds that lives in this area snapped this picture one afternoon.

Don't you know there was a lot of excitement for everybody involved when this happened?

 

I wonder what kind of baby the Ferrari had 9 months later.

 

ROFLMAO

 

Just to add to the confusion.
I have been using these 41mm and 30mm "long" service pattern wrenches on 1st gen racks for decades.
The 41 is 14" long. I will say the 41 is a very tight fit and a very poor forging, no finish machining. That might explain why others are using a 42.
The 30 is a much higher quality German made piece with finish machining.

 

I really think the inner tie rods have 2 different sizes that they came in.

If @Timmah! says 30mm I have no doubt that's what was correct for his application.

But, on the other hand, I did mine with a 32mm... I know, because as you can see from reading my write up, I not only bought 1... but I had to buy 2 of them. (and I don't even own a 30mm).

 

Could very well be but I have never had a runner in my shop.
For grins, which rack type do you have. Inside hex/Allen or external hex on the preload adjuster.
I ask because Toyota made some changes thru the years. Some major like the adjuster/guide and some listed but not described other than a part number followed by "with upgrade # so&so".