2000 monte carlo ss tie rod issue
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 31
2000 monte carlo ss tie rod issue
So I decided that I was going to attempt to remove my control arm, steering knuckle and strut so I could replace the strut, ball joint and CV axle all in one shot except for one little issue with the tie rod. The nut on the tie rod just spins when you turn it. its not loosening or tightening just endlessly spinning. Anyone else have this issue? any idea on how I can get it off without replacing my steering knuckle?
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 12,605
From: Mentor, Ohio
I had that happen on my Monte. I used vice grips and a breaker bar and "he-manned" that thing free.
A little more educated now, I have run into this issue again and found an easier method (thanks to the help of a local friend to let me "see the light"). GM used nuts with a nylon insert. Grab small torch (a simple small propane torch commonly used for sweating pipes that you can get at home depot will do the trick). Heat the nut and melt the nylon out (you will see it drip out). Once it it out, the nut spins a lot easier. With your problem you may still need something like vice grips or channel locks to hold the stem, but should not be a big deal once the nylon is out.
@Plumbob - Never heard of a nut splitter (I have used a grinder to remove a stuck nut/bolt before). This sounds like something worth adding to the arsenal of tricks for pesky problems like these!!
A little more educated now, I have run into this issue again and found an easier method (thanks to the help of a local friend to let me "see the light"). GM used nuts with a nylon insert. Grab small torch (a simple small propane torch commonly used for sweating pipes that you can get at home depot will do the trick). Heat the nut and melt the nylon out (you will see it drip out). Once it it out, the nut spins a lot easier. With your problem you may still need something like vice grips or channel locks to hold the stem, but should not be a big deal once the nylon is out.
@Plumbob - Never heard of a nut splitter (I have used a grinder to remove a stuck nut/bolt before). This sounds like something worth adding to the arsenal of tricks for pesky problems like these!!
Monte Of The Month -- January 2016
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 2,293
From: Pacific NW
So I decided that I was going to attempt to remove my control arm, steering knuckle and strut so I could replace the strut, ball joint and CV axle all in one shot except for one little issue with the tie rod. The nut on the tie rod just spins when you turn it. its not loosening or tightening just endlessly spinning. Anyone else have this issue? any idea on how I can get it off without replacing my steering knuckle?
Video:
Not to be confused with the butt splitter:
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/y85492Razzo/maxresdefault.jpg
You'll need one of these to protect from that: https://ae01.alicdn.com/kf/HTB1L6t2N...otect-Pads.jpg
Last edited by plumbob; May 13, 2017 at 07:57 AM.