tie rod lock removal

[Mr. Spool]

I am having trouble removing the square metal lock that holds the tie rod to the steering rack on my s14. I just cant seem to get it to come off. any assistance would be apreceated. thanks.

[holisticbeatz]

B.F.H.

[Flybert]

Start prying with something small and then wedge a larger prying tool in there and hammer the shit out of it til it's pretty much flat so that you can twist off the tie rod.

[kanekz]

Originally posted by holisticbeatz
B.F.H.

Just in case no one knows:

Big F'n Hammer

[Mr. Spool]

sounds easy enough. I figured that it would take some finesse but instead it takes brute force, Ive got plenty of that, should be easy enough. thanks all.

[holisticbeatz]

Ok, I tried installing new tie rods today and I followed Aaron's aka dousan36 instructions here: http://www.zilvia.net/f/showthread.p...l&pagenumber=1

However, when I came upon this on my S14:



Aaron forgot to mention that the removal of the lock plate just before the inner tie rod bearing would require brute force. During my installation today, I figured it out. The lock plate's job is to keep the inner tie rod bearing from moving around. Everytime the inner tie rod is swapped out, the lock plate will have to be destroyed in order to safely remove the inner tie rod. A new lock plate is required during installation of a new inner tie rod.

Also, I went ahead and referred to my FSM and surely enough, I was correct. Check it out:



Note: It say's to install new lock plate. So the destruction of the old lock plate is required!

After reading Aaron's instructions archived here on Zilvia, I went out and attempted to install new tie rods. However, when I came upon the lock plate, I tried to ease it out. After an hour of frustration, I simply took a BFH and flat head screw driver and smashed it out. Upon careful examination, I came to the conclusion that a part such as the lock plate will require it's own destruction. It cannot be avoided. Anyhow, I will be taking a trip down the my local Nissan parts department and order a pair of new lock plates. I'm going to post on Aaron's thread after I successfully complete my installation. I apologize if I sound a bit wordy or redundant. My goal is to be as descriptive as possible.

edit: I was just thinking about it again and I came up with these analogies. The lock plate is like a cotter pin, it's better to get a new one after you take the old one off. Like a cotter pin, sometimes you'd have to fu*k it up in order to take it off. Like a paper clip, the lock plate can never be bent back into it's orginal shape.

[West]

Nice! I noticed this too, but havent got the replacements since I trashed one of the lock plates. List the Part # when you post if you would and how much you paid if yaz would. Thanks!

[holisticbeatz]

Inner tie rod spacer lock plate - Part # 48635-50A06 - Since the inner and outer tie rod are interchangable between the S13 and S14, I'm certain that both cars use the same lock plate. The list price for this item was $10.19 at my local dealership.

Inner tie rod boot kit - Part # 48204-65F25 - I had to purchase a new boot because one was torn during removal on my S14. The boot kit also includes all neccessary mounting hardware. The list price for this item was $20.57 at my local dealership.

The parts that I ordered weren't stocked at my dealership. The items had to be ordered from an out-of-state Nissan warehouse and E.T.A. would be 2-3 business days. Hopefully everything will come in promptly, because I'm tired of bumming rides off my friends and co-workers.

[Johny5]

my moog's came with those lock plates, you guys didn't?