[s-cars] Help freeing frozen tie rod adjusters

[Marc Swanson]

> It seems the archives are down, so I can't access them to determine
> how to free frozen suspension adjusters. Any lister's with copies of
> lister experience on freeing frozen tie rod adjusters, or anyone willing
> to offer your own advise on freeing them?
>
> Patient is an '89 200Q, currently pigeon toed.


Well, on my cars I've had decent success with a good penetrating oil
soak followed by a blast with a mapp gas torch (acetylene is even
better).  Just be careful not to let too much heat get to the tie rod
ends.  If you think you are getting close to hurting the boots, spray a
little water near the ends and keep going with the heat in the middle at
the adjusting nut.  So far this has worked every time for me.

To prevent this from happening in the future, I coat the threads of the
tie rods with a heavy weight grease, then use a small ~6" section of
bicycle inner tube cut down the middle to cover the area (with the slit
end down) and secure it in place using zip ties on the ends.  This seems
to keep the threaded section from rusting up/becoming clogged with grit.

HTH

--
-Marc
87' 4ktq
88' 90q
www.mswanson.com/audi