NASAblue

My toe is a little out one one side after a run in was a nicely oiled (someone's oil cooler line(awesome)) turn one at summit point and an off road excursion through the rutted grass side ways.

I have tried a couple of big adjustable wrenches and small to medium sized 13 mm open end wrenchs, but none seem to do the trick of even coming close to getting the tie rod to budge.

It looks like a wrench on the ball joint and a wrench on the tie rod. Is it that simple or am I missing something?

What tools are you guys using?

Thanks

procketus

If you have stock setup here is what I use:

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item....re&dir=catalog

Just make sure that the clamps on each end of the sleeve are loose.

96CollectorSport

I use a Knipex plyers, they are expensive for a plyers but they work great.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...3&blockType=G3

I got mine from the Snap-On dealer, but Mac, Matco and others have them. The link above is Sears.

NASAblue

Awesome guys, I'll give them a try.

Falcon

All you have to do is loosen the jam nut and turn the tie rod end, isn't it?

I haven't had to adjust my alignment in a while, so my memory might be a little fuzzy.

wallyman424

Yeah, all you have to do is loosen the jam nut and then turn the tie rod arm. No need for special tools

redtopz

I was trying to figure out what that first tool was for. All I've been using is an open end wrench and a crescent wrench.

kimmer

gkmccready

Yeah. Isn't it a 21mm for the jam nuts and a 12mm for the rod itself?

naschmitz

What do you think made the toe change? Certainly isn't the tie rod turning in the rod end. I have a similar issue with an off I had at my last event of the season. Something has to be bent to change the toe, doesn't it? Shouldn't we look for what got bent and replace it rather than just set the toe back?

rustyguns

i just used a hammer and straightened mine out

trackboss

I've used one of these for years on a variety of cars:
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item....e=&dir=catalog
Works great for turning the tie rods because you can let it hang on them as you take measurements and it only turns in one direction so you can in a way ratchet the tool. For a lot less you can probably do something smilar with a tool from the plumbing section of a hardware store. The plumbers ones also rotate at the head if you don't have a straight shot at the tie rod for some reason.

davidfarmer

7/8 for the jam nut (I think), and 13mm to turn the tie rod (there is a flat spot along the rod for the wrench). On some cars, there is a larger flattened area near where the inner tie rod attaches.

If you loosen the jam nut and the rod won't turn, something is wrong!

naschmitz

Thanks for joining my Ignore List!

rustyguns

sorry but i really did use a hammer

NASAblue

Jam nut you say, hmmm

I'm going to check/replace any damaged parts , the toe out is ever so slight, by no means was it undrivable, if I was on a road with crown, it drives pretty straight.

After finishing out the day, I drove it home without a problem, but just wanted to get it back to normal for the left lane crown.

Happy Thanksgiving all!

Woods

I'm pretty sure the jam nut is reverse thread