New Style Inner Tie Rods

[BenBrausen]

I changed my tie rods yesterday but I couldn't get the inner ones off. The 1 5/16th or whatever tool I rented wouldn't fit over the outter part of where it screws in to get to the inner part where it needs to grab. The outer part was just a little bigger and rounded. Are these the new Ford ones? I looked through all the reciepts I have (I have every single one since day one) and couldn't find any for replacement of the inner tie rods. What year did they change to the new style? For right now I guess I'm gonna forget about them. The outers were the bad ones (on the driver side only) and the inners seem to be find. They stayed in place by themselves and didn't drop and wouldn't move in and out at all.

 

[JLOSHO]

Those are the likely the newer, improved inner tie rods from Ford. They're a little more expensive, supposedly are lower friction & last longer but need a more specialized tool for removal/installation. There's several good former posts in this forum on both types, installation tips, etc...

I originally got TRW inners from Advance Auto at approx $25 ea - they were the newer style and I didn't want to invest in purchasing the necessary tool kit for such a rare use. Ultimately, I got Perfect Circle's from AutoZone at like $17 ea, which were the old style & use their loaner tool.

 

[FAST4DR]

Ben,

I went through the same thing. You need the tool where you slip a wrench part over the tie rod nut and then slide the tool on the tie rod and engage the part you slid on the tie rod. I paid $60 bucks for it off of a snap on truck.

Here is what you need on ebay

 

[nc89sho]

or a decent quality adjustable wrench.. a big one. worked like a charm for me.