What tool to remove tie rod? tried spanner and mole grips

[daddycool]

adjustable spanner is too wide and can't get into the slot, there's only about 5mm or so to slot onto.

would a boa strap wrench work around the smooth bit of the bolt?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00096JDKS/?tag=cliospnet01-21

i read that renault have a specialist tool to hold the rack so it doesn't twist- is this necessary?

thanks

 

[daddycool]

anyone?

 

[Soot1e]

I use stilsons and an open spanner. That tool you show above looks a bit flimsy.

 

[Fred@BTM]

end of a 30mm spanner cut off and welded to a 1/2 inch extension bar is what i use!

 

[daddycool]

is it definitely 30mm for the clio? it looked like a 34mm but can't be sure til i pick up new ones

 

[Soot1e]

I believe there are 2 different sizes.

 

[Fred@BTM]

SMI rack (which 99.999999% of them have) is 30mm from memory

 

[daddycool]

got some replacement items now. they need a 32mm spanner. i hope the old ones are 32 as well, not too thrilled with the idea of having to buy two large spanners for effectively a one off job.

 

[Fred@BTM]

yeah its 32mm, 100%

 

[daddycool]

the new tie rods are 15mm shorter than the old ones, which means 20mm is threaded into the track rod ends compared with 35mm on the old ones. is this a no-no?

 

[daddycool]

i managed to crack the bolt but its not getting any looser. i assume its a normal thread in at that it comes off anti-clockwise? it feels like whatever the tie rod bolt is in is rotating with the tie rod. is this possible?

 

[daddycool]

same on the other side. am i missing something out?

 

[daddycool]

got it done. a combination of leaning on the tie rod so as to apply pressure to the bolt, and wiggling the bolt back and forth which seemed to free it up a bit.

 

[daddycool]

and the spanner i used was a 32/36mm viscous fan spanner from halfords with the 36mm hacked off for clearance.