my rear tie rod was frozen in place couldn't move it at all! the alignment shop used a torch to heat it up to loosen the lock nut on the tie rod. once it was loose, they cooled it down by spraying water on it. Then did the alignment.

Is using a torch and the whole procedure safe for the tie rod? did a search online and it looks like it's common practice with cars. But is it safe with our tC? Did they screw up the tie rod now i'll have to get a new one?

let me know.. thanks

 

Yes, it is common practice and should be fine, I've done it on a few cars myself. The tC doesn't differ from other cars in this way, so as long as the shop knew what they were doing, you'll be fine.

 

as long as they didnt bend or warp it in any way...should be fine.

 

I sprayed some very good penetrating lube on mine and after a couple of minutes they broke free fairly easily. I was not able to pop them with breaker bars over some big modified wrenches, the lube made it easy.

Aero Kroil, by far the best product of that type I have ever used, costs around $15 a can but worth it

Heat, old time trick, as long as not over done it would be fine, get it to hot and it may weaken the metal, not a good thing on suspension bits;)

Rick

 

yeah they ended up heating it up for a couple of minutes, then cooled it down.. was worried about the chances of warping the metal.

but even if the tie rod was warped, let's say.. then worse case scenario, and the tie rod is replaced. then.. since nothing else was heated up, everything would be fixed by replacing the tie rod..

 

Warped would not be a big deal unless to a high degree, the heat/cold process could weaken the metal, breakage is far more an issue. Warped to a small degree, no worries, just adjust the lenght and pray the warping did not also weaken it.

 

thanks for the info. yeah if worse case happens the tie rod can be replaced.

 

its ok. i do it all the time with alignments.

 

its fine no other way to loosen them that way much safer then with the pressure trying to pull with wrech

 

its scary when a wrench breaks on you. i know first hand. tossed that ____ across the shop i was so ____ed.