Need help: Steering rack or tie rod? can i remove them?

[meta]

Hey hey everyone, basically i've had a crashed, managed to pull most of the mx apart so far, but i'm now stuck with a prob now, after taking out the lower control arm, shock strut and everything else, all that's left is a bent tie rod.... ....so what i need to know is, the rod itself, can it be removed? or do i have to replace the whole steering rack?

From what i can see, the tie rod has a ball joint at the end that connects to the steering rack, which i'm guessing is locked in by a nut?, i've managed to take off the pivot joint which connects to the lower control arm, but i can't seem to figure out whether or not i can take out the tie rod?

If anyone has any ideas of how to do it? A guide perhaps or even a link to anyone posting regarding tie rods, please post away, i'm at a very frustrating fork in the road and unfortunately this tie rod is the last piece, which is stopping me from putting my mx back together

Thanks everyone

Meta

[kazjim]

Answered in your other thread .....

update your location in your profile and someone nearby may be able to assist !

J

[tbro]

Meta,
Are you talking about the tie rod end or the round locknut under/inside the steering rack boot.

If its the tie rod end then the tool your going to borrow will do the job. If it the one under the boot then I would get someone who reco racks in Newcastle area to check out the rack after you take it out. Usually if you have done the damage like you have to the rest of the front suspension you will probably have bent the rack!!!!!If that is the case it would prob be cheaper and quicker to get another rack from Mania or MX5Plus.

Have a look in the tech section at the parts list for NAs,for a better understanding. page 223/4

Terry.

[meta]

Meta,
Are you talking about the tie rod end or the round locknut under/inside the steering rack boot.

If its the tie rod end then the tool your going to borrow will do the job. If it the one under the boot then I would get someone who reco racks in Newcastle area to check out the rack after you take it out. Usually if you have done the damage like you have to the rest of the front suspension you will probably have bent the rack!!!!!If that is the case it would prob be cheaper and quicker to get another rack from Mania or MX5Plus.

Have a look in the tech section at the parts list for NAs,for a better understanding. page 223/4

Terry.

Hi there terry,

I'm not 100% sure (i'm not so mechanically savvy) but it's the one connected to the steering rack, not the one i can screw off (not sure if that helps), i considered checking out the steering rack, but at the current moment, i'm strapped for cash as it is (respray quote is alot more than i first expected), although from initial inspection, most of the damage was taken by the lower control arm, so hopefully it wouldn't need replacing, but yeah terry, can i still use the tie rod splitter for this? or do i need another tool?

[tbro]

Meta,
Are you talking about the tie rod end or the round locknut under/inside the steering rack boot.

If its the tie rod end then the tool your going to borrow will do the job. If it the one under the boot then I would get someone who reco racks in Newcastle area to check out the rack after you take it out. Usually if you have done the damage like you have to the rest of the front suspension you will probably have bent the rack!!!!!If that is the case it would prob be cheaper and quicker to get another rack from Mania or MX5Plus.

Have a look in the tech section at the parts list for NAs,for a better understanding. page 223/4

Terry.

Hi there terry,

I'm not 100% sure (i'm not so mechanically savvy) but it's the one connected to the steering rack, not the one i can screw off (not sure if that helps), i considered checking out the steering rack, but at the current moment, i'm strapped for cash as it is (respray quote is alot more than i first expected), although from initial inspection, most of the damage was taken by the lower control arm, so hopefully it wouldn't need replacing, but yeah terry, can i still use the tie rod splitter for this? or do i need another tool?

Hi Meta,
The tool you have won't work on the inner rod end, I haven't stripped an Mx5 rack so without actually seeing one I can't tell you if they have a lock pin or lockplate. You will still have to remove the rack from the car to inspect it, and if its repairable i think you will find it going to cost more for a new rack end, oil etc than what a 2nd hand unit will cost. Remember this is the steering you playing with, so if it ain't right don't put it back together. If your not sure if its ok or not, put another one in.

Terry