Stuck Tie rod Geometry Nut - trick

Releasing a tight tie rod nut to adjust the front wheel geometry

[@Peppermint1]

If really stuck, use a pipe wrench from your hardware store (google up). A 16" one should have a good leverage and it's cheap. **NEVER** work on a car that has been through rain/car wash. Water on threads will rust and literally weld any nut/bolt. May also ask a garage to weld a rod on the nut - then just cut the rod when finished. Many garages tighten these nuts way too hard. Also, as a general rule *never* work on a car that just has been driven in rain. Water gets on bolt threads, when you tighten back a wet bolt, the water will rust inside the bolt threads and stuck it incredibly hard. Like it multiplies by 2 the removing torque. If you are skilled with a grinder, you may try cutting the nut down to almost near the threads, then smack it to crack it in two - but work really carefully with the grinder in that tight space. Then unscrew the tie rods all the way and put a new nut and adjust the geometry. If you rather want to replace the inner and outer tie rods together: undo the outer tie rod at the wheel, then the inner tie rod at the steering rack. How to replace a tie rod end without changing the wheel geometry (alignment) kzbin.info/www/bejne/equliXVmoch-nMk How to perform front wheel alignment at home (with good success) kzbin.info/aero/PLl-l6yge4asstdyo8PTHx2G-ME46hNDO7

[@tmeme1836]

This is the best info here. Thank you!

[@whitechris720]

After a car gets wet I dispose off them

[@eyvazheydarli]

You are absolutely right about some mechanics not bothering to perform a proper alignment for a car just because they can't loosen those bolts. They would still charge you for the alignment that they have not done. I know this from my experience.

[@gedanjj]

Okay, I tried fire, PB Blaster soak for a few minutes, more fire, more PB Blaster, some choice bad words....then I re-watched this video because I was watching videos on how to do my tie rods before I actually worked on them. So, like I said, I rewatched this video today after taking a break. After watching it, I thought....why not give it a try!? IT F**KING WORKED. I couldn't believe it. THANK YOU!!!!

[@Peppermint1]

comment made my day

[@Jsnckr]

This video helped me break the torque on that nut. Many thanks

[@Peppermint1]

Great to hear

[@mega1miner176]

Took a second to find a spot to wedge the bar and wrench good but when I did it worked like a charm! Cheers!

[@David..]

These things are seemingly welded on at the factory. I live in Arizona, truck has never seen snow or salt, is only 5 years old yet I had to torch the lock rings and use a 14” wrench to get them to move.

[@Peppermint1]

Would be very rare, but maybe someone at the assembly line had a bad day and wanted to cause some trouble. Or he was a newbie ..

[@helpmefixthis9117]

I'm. In az mesa ... Having the same issue with my mazda6 trying to change ouy my tie rod ends. I even bought Crows feet in21 mm Had to order it At home depot tried it didn't work so I returned it. Got my money back then. I bought an extender so I could use a wrench. Try it didn't work and i'm about to bring it back.. Tried a breaker bar, didn't work. There's no rust it's not welded on... Tie rod end is so bad that it' might fall off. So needs to be fixed soon.. I'm thinking of getting a nutcracker to crack the nut off. Or I could cut the tirod end off completely and replace the inner rods two.. I honestly don't know if the inner tie rods are bad. But the outer ones for sure. I already have the parts. Just don't have the inner tie rod parts or tool. I would have to rent it But to use the inner tierod tool. You would need to remove all the bolts and nuts... I would have to manually cut it off.. Since I don't have access to electricity. Was even going to ask a shop to just do it for me.. Or maybe possibly just loosen that bolt. But I don't think it's gonna move for anybody. Probably over hundred plus foot pounds on it... It's pretty impossible to do without a lift on under the car holding it up. I'm even thinking about it going to the other side of the city where I could rent a lift .... If you're in arizona, there's a place in the west side of phoenix that actually rents out their garages By the hour or by the day.... think it's fifteen dollars an hour And you could pay a little extra to borrow there professional tools.. I might do that

[@Peppermint1]

I've once worked on my car after driving through rain. Bolts/threads were wet. Put them back in place. Few weeks later had to undo those bolts again - it felt like they were welded. Water will rust on threads and jam the nut/bolt like crazy. Best free thread locking paste

[@kristoffertjemsland8087]

Excellent! Not only did the trick with levering against the wrench help me out, most importantly your comment that the jam nut might loosen by turning the other way around. I had been going at it the wrong way for quite some time, without loosening it the slightest of course 😂 Doing the right hand side, the jam nut loosens by turning it “with the clock”. Had I just looked at the threads of the inner rod, I would have figured 😅

[@grimakastatik]

@3:25 same thing happened to me!! I brought it to 1 place and told me they did an alignment but i still had issues. Brought it to another place and said my axles needed to be replaced (which they did), told me they did an alignment. Which i assumed they did because it wasnt drifting. But i got shaking in the steering wheel at about 45mph. So i checked it myself. And there and behold. They never did an alignment because they couldn't get the nut off. And i cant right now either. (Still working at it, going to try your tip) And they charged me for it. After that, i do all my own work now unless it requires pulling an engine.

[@Peppermint1]

If not is really stuck, may try to cut it with angle grinder - need new nut. Worst scenario, undo the inner tie rod at the rack and replace both inner and outer tie rods.

[@viliusr.8792]

I do my tie rods, a year ago took it to the shop to do alignment... boy oh boy it was a mistake they did tighten lock nut very hard. I used jack to untighten and did not work, thinking of heating methode and spending another hour or two to do this (already spent almost two hours yesterda) so angree :)

[@Peppermint1]

I suggest bringing it back to a garage to have them release the nut. It is true many places tighten this way too much

[@bobk3569]

I have seen red thread locker on the jam nut. Only heat could break it loose. String alignment and the vehicle drives straighter than ever.

[@Peppermint1]

Red thread locker ? Some mechanics got ptsd. Glad you sorted it.

[@ctviews]

Yes I agree with everyone. It's a fantastic trick and it worked perfectly. Thanks for making this video. It definately was the solution. Keep them coming.

[@Peppermint1]

Nut stuck on inner tie rod threads but free from outer tie rod: Soak with Liquid Wrench for 1-2 weeks then put a smaller wrench on the hex face of the inner tie rod, put another wrench on the nut, try to have wrenches parallel as parallel as possible (you can place a wrench at two different angles), insert a bar in between them and rotate the bar such way as to force the wrenches to rotate with respect to each other - try to rotate so the nut is unscrewing.

[@Kyv]

My driver side was smooth when it came to this part. Passenger side came around and was not the same. Thought I’d try this idea and it worked! I appreciate it!

[@Peppermint1]

Great

[@lSUlCHl]

i just finished changing the inner tie rod on my 01 tacoma v6 3.4l 4x4 while saving the good outer tie rod and the adjustment nut was definitely seized, i ended up taking the both inner and outer out together, and using my angle grinder with a metal cutting blade i cut a slit into the nut until I barely hit the threads then took a chisel or flathead and hammer and hit into the slit until it became loose. bought a hex die for $3 from the hardware store and chased the threads, and was able to save $80 from a moog replacement

[@jaimeandrescatano]

when I found the nut under heavy rusty material it was very easy with some leverage as seen in the video, and off course wd-40 apply the every day for 3 days or something. good video!

[@telecasterman18]

My problem is I’m on the driver’s side so I need to pry down and there’s nothing. I’ll definitely remember your trick for the passenger side. Thank you!

[@vdcwalk]

Thank you! Using another bar against my wrench did the trick!

[@tomhotel]

You're a lifesaver

[@yarngod]

You saved me hours of work

[@Peppermint1]

Glad to hear!

[@ynonser5804]

thanks. i was struggling a bit i saw your video and it works the first try

[@Peppermint1]

👍

[@cunworldwide1607]

@1:30 thought he destroyed his camera phone or there was an EXPLOSION

[@thetyedyejedi3228]

Thank you! Ended my headaches today!

[@Peppermint1]

👍

[@magicalempire]

idiot mechanics always do them up too tight, i have to heat them to loosen the nut, sometimes they are so tight we must weld the wrench onto the nut to loosen

[@Peppermint1]

Before welding, try a pipe wrench like a 16" one. Needs some space for the handle, but grabs real strong even a rounded nut.

[@MLeung-vl7we]

Regarding tightening the nut back...its not the force that the previous mechanic used thats causing the problem, its the rust thats basically welded itself to the bolt.

[@skorpyo331]

Which means impossible lol.

[@tmeme1836]

Pretty sure its both🤣

[@zenoc6715]

You are awesome been fighting and cursing for 2 hours. Watched your video work like a charm. Thanks

[@kromanak3592]

Worked perfectly! Thank you!!

[@Peppermint1]

👍

[@RogerPack]

It seems with Toyota anyway, tie rods are on the back side of the wheel, so it's flipped and you'd leverage down. For me just banging on the wrench was enough, however it just loosened the inner tie rod entirely, not the nut. Put a wrench or grip pliers on the hexagonal part (under the sway bar or on a jack or cinder block), did it again and it came loose. Other options are penetrating oil, heat, removing outer tie rod and putting an impact wrench on nut :)

[@KunjanChauhan]

took my car to the garage to have it's geometry done, nut was tight and the mechanic gave up. ridiculous....! In the old days, the mechanic would have heated it up or used leverage...!

[@benshaw576]

1:30 Ouch, that hurt 🤕

[@Mooseguy15]

Unfortunately this worked on one side, but it didn't actually break the nut loose, it only broke between the outer tie rod and itself, it did allow me to change it for the moment, the inner tie rod just spins on it's ball joint and I could tighten it and just adjust the boot, but i'm probably gonna have to go the route of cutting it off and just replacing it with the ones that came with my new tie rod ends.

[@michaelvd2467]

Thanks for all your videos man, they are of great help!

[@Peppermint1]

Welcome!

[@chriswilliams4338]

Man your a life saver! Thanks

[@Peppermint1]

👍

[@jacobmiller7175]

Do you normally use a second wrench to turn your tie rod opposite direction? Or are you just bottoming out the tie rod end?

[@Peppermint1]

Much easier just to bottom out, it's not going to bend anything - but be careful because you may loose a bit of toe adjustment - try to keep the inner tie rod and the outer tie rod together without rotation.

[@xGaMErZzZPrOx]

When I use one wrench to try to get the nut loosened, the metal bar that connects the inner tie rod to outer tie rod just spins

[@unnainconnu9098]

Yes, just use a second wrench on it to avoid damaging the ball joint that connects it to the wheel. Block that second wrench against the car frame to make it easier.

[@Peppermint1]

Why the steering wheel stays turned while driving in a straight line kzbin.info/www/bejne/nJfMomSfaalrhKc

[@Kampup]

my nut is lose from the rod end but is stuck on the thread, how to loosen please?

[@Peppermint1]

Tricky one. Soak with Liquid Wrench for 1-2 weeks then put a smaller wrench on the hex face of the inner tie rod, put another wrench on the nut, try to have wrenches parallel as parallel as possible (you can place a wrench at two different angles), insert a bar in between them and rotate the bar such way as to force the wrenches to rotate against each other - try to rotate so the nut is unscrewing.

[@finkleclaw]

Is this not bad for the ball joint on the outer tie-rod end?

[@Peppermint1]

The small ball joint should strong enough - unless we it's some inexpensive part. But it's correct that we should not apply excessive force. I also believe there cannot be applied excessive force with this setup, the wrench would just slide off

[@finkleclaw]

@@Peppermint1 okay thanks. The issue I run into most often is the jam nut getting fused to the inner tie rod shaft which of course just spins forever on the steering rack end and only takes like a 14mm wrench.

[@skorpyo331]

Maybe a jackstand would make a good leverage stand instead of the suspension parts. Just an idea.

[@jamesrich8463]

I've done that before just put a jack under it and pump it up. My whole inner tie rod is spinning though not the nut on it.

[@aidanatkinson7717]

Right, like bruh I tried using a wrench and jack as my counter torque to another wrench on the nut, the jack forced the wrench on the inner tie rod up while I hit a wrench with a hammer on the nut down, scraped off the material on the inner tie rod and not the nut…bruh

[@jaysmechs2457]

I tried to untorque the adjuster bolt and the bolt stripped good. Now I can’t even get a good grip with my 22mm anymore. Am I screwed?

[@RogerPack]

Maybe could cut it off, as described in other comments? :)

[@jaysmechs2457]

why respond 1 year later? I don’t have this issue don’t waste our time

[@Michael-uo4jj]

yeah mine on my own car won't even release with oxy acetylene and air hammer I'm a tech sad day man this trick will not work for me ;-; by the way your tire rotation is going in the wrong direction

[@Peppermint1]

You may try cutting the nut down to close the threads, then smack it to crack it in two. Otherwise, it's new inner and outer tie rods. Not fun indeed. And yes, that tire was mounted the wrong way (or put on the wrong side of the car), well seen

[@Michael-uo4jj]

@@Peppermint1 yeah i kinda knew the only other option was to cut it but sucks it has no play

[@TheQuijote76]

To loose the nut should I turn the wrench to the front of the car or to the opposite direction? I will change inner and outer rods but this nut is super tightened. Could I try to remove the outer tie rod and after use a bench as leverage to remove the inner one?

[@Peppermint1]

As you sit behind the wheel, turn clockwise. Same on both sides. But if you replace both the inner and the outer, you don't need to remove this nut, just remove the big nut at the wheel hub, then undo the inner tie rod at the steering rack - then remove them both together - you can then put the new ones in back approximately at the same length as the old ones but still need to go to garage to do the geometry.

[@RogerPack]

The follow-up "how to center the alignment" video appears to be this one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nJfMomSfaalrhKc

[@bradsheppard6407]

do they loosen by turning clockwise?

[@Peppermint1]

No, it's a normal thread but since we are accessing it from the 'opposite' side, that's why it 'seems' to undo clockwise. If you keep a bolt in your hand and 'switch' it 180 degrees, it will appear to loosen/tighten in the opposite direction. That's why every time I work on the tie rod nut, I first make sure I'm going to loosen/tighten the correct way.

[@bradsheppard6407]

@@Peppermint1 I'm still very confused to be completely honest

[@bradsheppard6407]

I watched another video of a guy on a driver side and it looked the same way he should be coming to the front of his car if it was a regular Bolt

[@Peppermint1]

​@@bradsheppard6407 Imagine yourself sitting at the place of the engine (inside the engine bay), looking at either wheel : the nut will tighten clockwise and untighten counterclock wise, as you watch from inside the engine bay towards either wheel

[@Peppermint1]

@@bradsheppard6407 If the nut doesn't want to move, it's better to bring the car to a garage and ask them to release it. They will heat it up and get more brutal. But sometimes not even a garage will manage to loosen a tie rod nut. In that scenario, we need to replace together the inner and outer tie rods

[@skorpyo331]

That nut is there to cost us money.

[@Peppermint1]

Unfortunately, many mechanics tighten it too much, it has to be tight but not excessively so. I do my own geometry and tighten it myself, I also like to lubricate it a little so it doesn't get stuck the next time (I use a little bit of bicycle chain lube)

[@skorpyo331]

@@Peppermint1 it would be awesome if you could still get the alignment done if only one side nut was moving and the otherside is frozen. But i guess not. Huh

[@Peppermint1]

@@skorpyo331 You can get the front wheels aligned by adjusting the tie rod on one side only, however you will not be able to correctly center the steering wheel, so it will stay more or less turned to one side while driving in a straight line

[@Peppermint1]

@iNSTAGiB Tight but not overtight. Tighten it down, then try to release is again - you should not struggle. Once tightened, I suggest putting a few droplets of oil around the nut, so it doesn't get stuck from rust.

[@SomeoneIsAlwaysMovingOnTheSurf]

1:30

[@zeez4178]

Oil it

[@themechanic4222]

You will never get alignments correct with a tape measure 😂.

[@Peppermint1]

Not perfect but good enough to have even tire wear in the past 15 years on several cars and sets of tires including winter and summer tires. There are many other people doing the same at home with good results, it is definitely doable if one is careful

[@skorpyo331]

Lol