Just wanna make sure I don't damage anything when doing it, how do I remove the tie rod or steering rack ends (I assume they are the same thing? - the rod/pole that the tie rod end screws onto).

i think they have 2 flat surfaces at the steering rack end under the rack boot,put a shifter on it and it undoes,it is not left hand thread so just undo normally

first jack car up and place on stands
2. remove front wheels
3.remove the split pin insdie the castleted nut
4. undo the ball joint ( tie rod end is a ball joint ) nut
so top of the nut is level with the top of the thread
5. get a hammer and smack the f**k out of the nut to pop the ball joint out. it will move down.
6. undo the nut and watch the tie rod end swing down
7. there should be some flat surfaces ( liek a nut ) on the tie rod use a good shifter to undo it

Hit the female part!
Not the nut!

Its far more effective and creates less damage and doesn't root the thread.


and as above, theres a flat surface under the boot that you use.

Don't use a shifter. Although there is flat surfaces, those surface area's are tiny. My suggestion is use a stilsons wrench, out of all the racks i've rebuilt, ive never gone wrong with it.

Also, when you go to put new ones on, make sure you have the lock tabs(washers).

Some use the old ones, but I wouldn't recomend it myself. Which ever you choose, your old ones or new, when hammering them back into place ( you will see what I mean when you take boots off), make sure you don't hit the rack shaft. If that has a dint in it, then say goodbye to that rack, may not be straight away but I will guarantee it will leak soon after. The seal at that end runs along the shaft, so any grooves will allow the fluid to piss out.

Tie rods fix onto the axle stub, rack ends (with long rod) fix onto the steering rack. If you mean the rack ends the boot has to be removed and then a locking washer has to be bent straight so as the ball joint can be undone with some multi grips. The tie rods dont have to be removed to replace the rack ends, just loosen the lock nut on the tie rod. After the new rack end is replaced make sure the locking washer is bent back over again with multi grips or similar.