Another disaster - help or info required - A4 TrackRod End

[magpies]

Hi
I'm renewing all the front arms and suspension on my B5 A4 2.5tdi (2001)
I've got the rod end out of the hub carrier and slackened off the lock nut to the end of the rack arm BUT cannot unscrew the TRE out of the rack arm - (The rubber in the tre just twists) I've also tried vicegrips on the threads while holding the rackend hex but to no avail - any thoughts ? It has the same problem at both sides - I have new TRE's
I'm thinking of heating the rack end hex as a last resort - worried about damaging the boot and or loosing the oil in the rack.

Mick

[Funky Town]

Use a pry bar to force the ball joint down onto the hub, that locks the ball joint to the hub and also frees up the nut a bit.

[Olly]

It's the rack end, rahter than hub that he's having problems with.

I'm coming up blank too ????

[Funky Town]

My mistake, hadn't read the discription properly, and assumed it was hub end since the ball joints can be a nightmare

[magpies]

any thoughts?