I'm really not having much luck with my front-end work this weekend. As you may have seen, I ran into seized alignment bolts, and now while doing the tie rods (one of which had play) I've found that one of the jam nuts is basically welded with rust onto the inner tie rod threads. I need to get that off to get the boot off. I tried penetrating fluid, I tried some heat, but I cannot free it by hand. I put a vice-grip on the tie rod, and using a 22mm wrench I cannot budge the damn thing.
I'm hoping if I get a 22mm long socket for my impact gun, that might loosen it.
Any other ideas? I guess I could buy another boot and just cut this one off, then take the rod off with the nut attached and throw it in the trash or put it in a vice to work on it once it's out of the truck. Not sure how much a steering boot costs. The thing is, this one with the welded jam nut is the good tie rod I'd like to have as a trail spare. Ugh!
If there's one thing I hate about working on older vehicles, it's dealing with rusty fasteners.
I'm hoping if I get a 22mm long socket for my impact gun, that might loosen it.
Any other ideas? I guess I could buy another boot and just cut this one off, then take the rod off with the nut attached and throw it in the trash or put it in a vice to work on it once it's out of the truck. Not sure how much a steering boot costs. The thing is, this one with the welded jam nut is the good tie rod I'd like to have as a trail spare. Ugh!
If there's one thing I hate about working on older vehicles, it's dealing with rusty fasteners.
