Inner Tie Rod end removal

[Sutol2]

I have a 1993 vintage Chimaera and the original steering rack gaiter needs replacing. Should be a nice easy job, but neither the outer Track-rod end or the Tie rod arm itself have any flats to get a spanner onto. I've tried grinding a Flat onto both but still cannot get enough purchase to undo the outer track rod end, despite soaking in penetrating oil for days.

Thinking that grinding a flat on the Tie rod arm is a bit suspect (MOT man may not like it!), and that after 63k miles the track rod will need replacing soon anyway, my thought was to cut the track rod end off and replace the whole tie rod along with gaiter.

Never having done this before my question is do i need a special tool to undo the inner tie rod end, or can it be done with "normal" tools ???.

[phazed]

Pull back the gaiter, and you can undo the track rod from the rack, you'll need a 32 mm or near that spanner iirc.

You really need to separate the track rod end to make the job easier.

[jojackson4]

Did mine last year after garage bottled it

Gas axe to get the old TRE off as soon as they got hot they span off like they were new

Plumbers blow torch may get them hot enough if you don't have the gas axe to hand
hth

[phillpot]

Plan A: Wind the lock nut back to the end of the thread, hold with suitable spanner then turn the track rod end with the ring end of a combination spanner over the taper pin bit.

Plan B: "Mole grips" or stilsons on track control arm.

Plan C: angle grinder (carefully!) and new track rod ends, they're not very expensive.

[phazed]

I did plan C.

got the correct part from TVR Parts first time.

03333237877

[Sutol2]

Hmmm... yes I thought the inner tie rod might be difficult as I presumed it torqued up hard and potentially thread-locked.
If I can't do it I'll revert to "Plan C" and see if the MOT man objects to that ground down(slightly)tie rod arm