Tie rod lock plate won't bend, help

[saturnv7890]

Hey so I embarked upon a minor front suspension overhaul today, changing the control arms, fcabs, sway bar links, and tie rod. Everything went without hitch except the tie rod!

So now my car is still sitting on jack stands with everything new installed except the tie rods.

My problem is that I can't bend back the locking plate! You can see what needs to be done in this picture (start with bottom-left picture, do some bending, and voila you have bottom-right picture)

http://www.e30tech.com/pictures/e30/steering/tierods/0007.jpg

I can't bend the washer though! I can't get anything under neath the washer to start bending it back up.

What have people done to get these things to bend back? Would I have better luck using a dremel and cutting the bent part off?

Thanks in advance!

[jlevie]

Use a small cold chisel and a hand sledge to bend back the tab. You will have to have a sharp point to start the tab up. Or you can use a dremel or similar to cut the shoulder of the tab. Regardless of how you get the lock tab free you need new tabs for the new tie rods.

[Mr. Tasty]

Hey so I embarked upon a minor front suspension overhaul today, changing the control arms, fcabs, sway bar links, and tie rod. Everything went without hitch except the tie rod!

So now my car is still sitting on jack stands with everything new installed except the tie rods.

My problem is that I can't bend back the locking plate! You can see what needs to be done in this picture (start with bottom-left picture, do some bending, and voila you have bottom-right picture)

http://www.e30tech.com/pictures/e30/steering/tierods/0007.jpg

I can't bend the washer though! I can't get anything under neath the washer to start bending it back up.

What have people done to get these things to bend back? Would I have better luck using a dremel and cutting the bent part off?

Thanks in advance!

when you get something that orks, let me know. I had that same problem 4 days ago. Had to reinstall everything for the next day

[bmwm42]

Remove rack its not that hard 15 mins tops

[monty23psk]

Small punch tool with hammer bends it back easy. Just need right size to be able to sit on washer.

[saturnv7890]

when you get something that orks, let me know. I had that same problem 4 days ago. Had to reinstall everything for the next day

Heres what worked for me: (and thanks for the help everyone else!)

I used a dremel with the beefiest cutoff disc I had, went at it for about 10 minutes, then was finally able to pull off the bent part.

I took a big pipe wrench and cranked off the tie rod, and it was more trouble than I had expected. When I looked at the locking plate, I saw they had bent it on both sides, which means there was still one side holding on, but it didn't matter. My torque with the pipe wrench was enough to shear the tab that protrudes from the plate.

So on the next side I didn't even waste my time, I just took my big pipe wrench, and pushed nice and hard, and it sheared that tab no problem!

Lesson learned? You don't need to do any bending, just twist and it will shear the tab on the plate with ease. Have fun!

(I'm not responsible for any damage to your rack though)


Thanks everyone else!

[Fusion]

I had to take mine out and fix it because someone locked it loose.
I took a hammer and flat screwdriver and tapped them away. Took the tie rod off, took the lock tab off and hammered it nice an flat on a flat surface.
Then I put both back and thightened the rod, hammered the locks with the bent side of the hammer at an angle, just tapping it to lock it in place.

[saturnv7890]

Yeah my problem was hammer and flat screw driver didnt work too well