Outer tie rod won’t spin off inner tie rod, help please

Trying to put new outer tie rods on my truck and I removed the tie rod from knuckle and got the lock nut off just fine, but the outer tie rod doesn’t spin freely out of the inner tie rod.

Every video I can find shows the tie rod spinning out like it was nothing, the inner tie rod stays still and it just comes out like a cake walk.. well, mine just spins together in unison.

Any ideas on a solution?

 

Put a pipe wrench on the inner to hold it while you unscrew the outer.

 

I will give that a go tomorrow, I have many a tool, but I’m embarrassed to say I don’t have a pipe wrench, I’ll have to borrow one from a neighbor.

I do have one concern that has crept up on me after quitting for the day.. do you think the fact that it won’t freely spin off is an indicator that the inner tie rod is shot?

I should’ve been more mindful while down there and given it some side-to-side and in-out movements to check for play, I don’t remember feeling any slop but I wasn’t really focused on it in that moment of “crap.. what now” with the outer tie rod.

 

Buy yourself a decent pipe wrench. Consider it an investment. You'll never know when it will come in handy.

Cast iron is fine, you don't need an aluminum one. Get a Rigid wrench that's at least 13 inches long (15" would be better). It will be a tool you'll have for the rest of your life and will be well worth the investment.

 

Did you loosen the jam nut? I think the jam nut is a 27mm and the inner takes a 28mm you just hold the inner while you turn the jam nut off then the outer should spin off.

 

Forgot to update, apologies.

I bought a nice pipe wrench (Milwaukee) and got it taken care of. Just put the pipe wrench on the outermost part of the inner tie rod so that it’s’ handle was resting on the sway bar bracket and was able to crank the outer tie rod off. It was a tough turn all the way out, pretty rusty through the entirety of the threads, but the inner tie rod is still really firm with no play so that was good news!

 

If you are going to reuse the OTR be sure to clean the threads using solvent and a wire brush, and then oil it lightly before reinstalling it.