Ok so I go to the garage today to put new tie rod ends on the car, i throw the appropriate size wrenches on the thing and nothing, so I spray it down with some liquid wrench and let it soak, again nothing. I heat the thing up and try and the only thing I end up doing it stripping out the hex section of the shaft. So does this mean I am screwed and need to buy a whole new rack and pinion? I'm sure even if i got the thing off when I go to get an alignment the guys at Sears are gonna tell me I need a new one anyway. Any ideas? Also where's a good place to get a new R&P if I do need to get one? Any particular brands to go with?

 

ttt

 

Did you loosen the lock nut on the outer tie rod end?

 

that's what I am attempting to do, the lock nut is completely rusted to the tie rod end. I can't get it or the end loose.

 

Try using a set of Vice Grips or something on the outer tie rods to hold everything in place while you try to loosen the nut.

If all else fails pull the rack out of the car (not hard) and put the outer tie rod into a vice. I doubt you'll need a new rack unless you screwed it up pretty bad. Once you get the nut loose the shaft will spin pretty easily with a pair of pliers or something.

If you do replace the rack get one from GM, I went through three remanufactured racks from NAPA within 6mo because they all leaked (from the same place too).