tie Rod replacment on a IX

[VRSTLE]

So ihave been doing a suspension rebuild on my 1990 ix and i was woundering if any one has any tips on how to remove a tie rod end.
I got the rubber boot off and now i can just see the final nut to remove but i dont know how i will

remember this is a ix so it is surrounder by a metal caseing

[JeremyL]

It sounds like you're trying to remove the inner tie rod end from the steering rack.

Just turn the steering wheel to one side until the tie rod end sticks out far enough that you can work on it. It doesn't have any wrench flats (if I recall) so you'll need vice grips or a pipe wrench.

Also, if you don't have a new "securing plate" (p/n 32111124540 http://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?...25&hg=32&fg=25) then be careful not to damage it during removal.

[ChaseN]

I just replaced both tie rods on my iX, my inner tie rods did have wrench flats (thinking about it, I'm not sure how the lock plates would work w/o flats), and after getting the lock plates out of the way, I was able to use a pair of appropriately sized channel locks. The lock plate is easy enough to reuse (though I would have preferred to get new ones, I was under the mistaken impression that they came with new tie rods). Just use a long flat head screwdriver and a hammer to move the "ears" out of the way, then when you install the new tie rods, I had good luck using a large pair of vise grips to bend the locking plates back into position. The hardest part of the whole operation for me was getting the boots slipped back up over the steering rack, the ends of the rack are BURIED up inside the subframe. Good luck, and remember that they are left & right specific.

Oh and if you leave your steering wheel unlocked, while you're under the car you can grab the steering shaft down near the rack to make adjustments L&R. I did about half the job getting up to turn the steering wheel until I thought "hey dumb ass..."

[6gen91]

When u pull the tie rod out, count how many times u twist it out aswell. Just so you know how many times to twist it back in haha

[ChaseN]

When u pull the tie rod out, count how many times u twist it out aswell. Just so you know how many times to twist it back in haha

If you're pulling out the inner tie rod along with the outer (which it sounds like the OP is trying to do), this isn't necessary. When you've got the old rod out, lay it on the floor alongside the new rod and adjust the new one to match (can also use a measuring tape to do this, probably a bit more precise but I couldn't be bothered :D). Works fine to avoid tire wear while buying time to get an alignment, which IMO you should do at some point not terribly long after replacing tie rods.

[VRSTLE]

thanks i am going to go out and do that right away, and yea i am replacing the whole thing so i plan to match them up with old and new and i bought the locking plates too so i plan to beat the crap out of the old ones

[6gen91]

i feel dumb. Haha