e36 tie rod alignment

[Garageaholic]

I just swapped my e36 rack in. and now i have to do the "poor mans alignment" to get the tires looking straight. Just enough so I can drive it down to get aligned professionally.......


I undid the locking nut on that connects the inner and outer tie rods.... what now?

Do I turn the inner tie rod to align it? or do I need to take the outer tie rod off of the strut housing and turn that by hand? I don't want to break either of them by doing the wrong thing, so i thought i'd ask anyway.....

I searched and did not find anything. or else I wouldn't have asked.

[erik325i]

you rotate the inner tie rod. Tighted the locknut when finished with your "allignment".

-Erik

[Garageaholic]

That inner tie rod is really hard to loosen up. Is that normal? i didn't want to break anything

[Rocla]

Just in case someone mis undestood.

Don't undo inner end from streering rack.

You must get the inner/outter threated joint to move.

Use CRC or similar oil and heat.

[Garageaholic]

No, i wasn't thinking of doing that. I'm curious of whether the inner tie rods are supposed to spin at all... Because I don't want to put alot of torque on the inner tie rod and end up snapping something inside the boot....

[Rocla]

it will spin, but first you need to get the threated joint between outer and inner shaft loose.

[Garageaholic]

You got it. Thanx alot guys!