Sick97SS

Drivers side tire pounded a curb today going about Seven mph at a 45degree angle. camaros' and snow are not good friends.

Anyways, got out and drivers tire looks like this // || , screwed..
got it home yanked off the wheel and see the inner tie rod is bent. hopefully that is all that is messed up. cant find anything else and the outter tie rod looks fine.

How do i remove the inner tie rod that connects to the steering rack?

entropy1

A special tool exists to remove inner tie rods..call around to try and find it

Green96Z

The tool you need is called a pickle fork. First, remove the cotter pin from the tie rod ball joint, then unscrew the castle nut. Loosen the lock nut on the other end. Then use the pickle fork and a hamer to pry the tie rod from the ball joint. Count how many turns it takes to unscrew the tie rod from the adjuster sleeve. Make sure you screw the new one in the same number of turns, this puts you in the ballpark for alignment. When you're done, you will need a front end alignment.

shoebox

Inner tie rods just screw on. You might not even have to take the outers off (I've never had to use a pickle fork).

Sick97SS

Thank you shoebox, that picture is exactly what I needed. The outside (spindle side) tie-rod looks fine. its the one that connects to the steering rack that is bent. Any advice on bending it back? I have a small handheld Mapp/oxygen torch but i dont think that will do it or should i just get a new one?

Also there is only a slight bend in the rod, but my wheels are badly cocked in, so i dread that there's something else wrong, A-arms, spindle, hub, everything else looks fine without any play or wobbles. anyhting else i should check?

Z28SORR

You don't want this to break while driving, so buy a new one. Have the wheel checked, might be bent?

Green96Z

Oh whoops, I'm thinking outer tie rod. Thanks for clarifying Shoebox!

Sick97SS

Well it's driving pretty strait now. I removed the inner tie rod and bent it to what looks like perfectly strait and still the tire was looking pretty crooked. Something else has to be off but I can't tell what, so i had to compensate and pull the toe out by about 3/4inch worth of threads on the tie rod. I eyeballed the wheel to be strait as best i could but atleast it's driveable again.

thank everyone for the help

TobyZ28

Get that car aligned... id also replace the tie rod

shoebox

You could have bent the steering knuckle (the part the outer tie rod is attached to).

Sick97SS

I was looking at the steering knuckle... trying to compare everything with the undamaged passenger side. there is about a 1 inch gap between the knuckle and the brake rotor on both sides so i think it's ok. something under there is different/bent i just cant figure out what.

Im just getting frustrated because i recently got the car aligned after the LS1 brake and spindle swap about 6 months ago. So for this to happen on the first snow of the season really sucks.

I got new inner and outter tie rods on the way from ebay. then i'll get it aligned.....again

TobyZ28

IF its not the knuckle and not the rod, it is possible for the bolts that are used for caster/camber alignments shifted from the impact (Sorry for the lack of technical workding ). These bolts located on the underside of the car should show a visible ring where they used to be if they shifted. I'm not sure how many there are... I think 2?

When I jumped a curb once (first rain with the new converter ) nothing bent but my alignment was screwed up. I think it ended up being the bolts moving....

Sick97SS

Toby360 nailed it. The lower front A-arm bolt (the one that is horizontal) slipped about 1 inch outward when i kissed the curb. I can even see the old rusty washer mark where it used to be. this is what was messing up my Toe-in.

But now i have a new problem... I put the bolt back and tightened it down pretty good. 10 mins worth of driving later, i heard i loud POP and the steering wheel instantly went crooked...the bolt keeps on sliding around. This has happened twice already. I had tightened it as hard as i could with a wratchet and rubber hammer, and it still moves on me when i turn or brake hard.

How do i put this thing in place permanently?? Anyone know the torque specs??

thanks again

shoebox

The vertical nut torque spec is 85 lb. ft.
The horizontal nut torque spec is 74 lb. ft.

TobyZ28

Try cleaning the bolts and surface real well too. Glad you found the problem