[T3] Changed my tie rod ends ?

[Daniel Nohejl]

I just dealt the tie rod ends 2 weekends ago and had some frustrations too. 

To get at the inners, I used a 22mm crowfoot for the small nut and a 24mm for the large one. To get at the passenger side inners, I used a 10” extension and a 3” extension on a 3/8” ratchet while working from the passenger side wheel. I slipped the large opening in the VW tube wrench for lug nuts/spark plugs over the end of the ratchet to get a little extra leverage because the nuts were tight as hell. 

In the end, on one side, I could tighten down the 22mm nut perfectly but not the 24mm nut which I could get snug but not tight. It also didn’t seem to slide back correctly over the tapered end of the rod. I’ll have to look at that again this weekend because it bothers me not being all the way tight. Never had this issue before on this car or Type 1. 

Daniel


> On May 2, 2016, at 7:30 PM, William J <catnine09 at dslextreme.com> wrote:
> 
> I had a difficult time because the inner tie rods have the nut that locks the end to the rod and both are one the drop arm . I need to know what type of wrench I need to get at them. I had to have the wheels off and reach in over the left side to tighten them .
> 
> I got them loose because I removed both tie rod with the ends and managed to tighten them with an adjustable wrench . I need to get them loose again with the wheels on so I can set the toe and center the steering wheel . I got the toe pretty close but now the steering wheel is 10 * off to the left before it was 10* off to the right. 
> 
> Any idea what VW tool was used or what those who have done this use? Also what size wrench ? It seems to be either 23 or 24mm I went by the adjustable wrench and measured it . 
> 
> I made a better tool to check the toe at the inside of the steel rims and plates to set the front wheels on then set the rear on jack stands . I used a tape measure from the tire center but that is not the way to do it.  It does not pull yet with the wheel off center it has more play going straight . There is a bit of play in the box most of it was the inner right tie rod end I had over 2 1/2" of play before replacing the ends , if I center the wheel there is a bit more than 1" now . 
> 
> I just need to know what sort of wrench I need to get at the tie rod nuts , they are hard to get at and the master cyl is right there too not to mention the beam . The outers are easy with the clamp and bolt and nut. 
> 
> William
> 
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