All Things Mk5 > How to Guides / Troubleshooting

Inner Tie Rod tool?

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svvg:
Hi - I've got to change the tie rods on my mkV GTI and from a bit of interweb research, and having a quick look while under the car, it seems to be to the case that there'll be clearance issues with getting a spanner on them? I've downloaded relevant sections from Erwin, and they use a special crow's foot spanner - but I'm not sure it would fit on the GTI?

I've seen two styles of inner tie rod tool - and the longer pipe style (where you insert a crows foot at the end) look to be good? Please could someone provide some advice on this if they've dome it themselves?

I've done them on my m3 a few times and bought a 46cm long 34mm spanner (whcih was a bargain at £13 for a halfords professional one...) - and that does the job pretty well on our E46s, but there are no clearance issues... I've also had to guesstimate the torque when reinstalling - so it'd be useful to use a tool which attaches to a ratchet.

Grateful if someone could share their experience on this.

Many thanks!

FJB:
I did mine using an adjustable spanner, if you don't have one large enough grips or similar will do the job. Jack up the car on both sides, go full lock on each side to move the tie rod nut out further and you will have enough access to be able to undo them.

svvg:
Ah great - sounds like there’s enough room with the rack wound fully out then. I tend to wind them fully in on the bmws so I can put some force on the end of the rack without damaging it. Will see how I go. I always use a bit of blue thread lock too on installation.

Many thanks.

LC5F:

--- Quote from: svvg on July 24, 2020, 05:40:48 pm ---I've seen two styles of inner tie rod tool - and the longer pipe style (where you insert a crows foot at the end) look to be good?

--- End quote ---

I did mine recently, I have had a cheap tube one that I have had for years and used on several VW's - it's great as you can confidently undo and torque with it...
However the Mk5 inner track rod is bigger than my tool can accommodate - I just measured the stump of one of the rods in my scrap pile, its 38mm across the flats, too big for your spanner.

In desperation ended up using the type below - that I had struggled with in the past, It does have a tendency to skate more than grip, but to my surprise I got it to work, the bigger diameter must help.


There is a good amount of space down there - Look into getting a Stilson type of wrench

svvg:
Thanks for this. Very helpful. It’ll obviously become slightly clearer once I’ve started trying to disassemble, but I’m trying to minimise downtime on the car (the bmws we’ve got are two door and a bgger to get a car seat in...). The tubes look good - but yes - 38mm is too big for them I think (the tie rods on the M3 are 34mm!) - so good to know that the “cam” style of tool can work (I think I saw someone use sandpaper with one once to get some extra purchase...).

Do you reckon a 38mm jumbo spanner would fit/enough clearance?

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