Track rod end help!

Been trying to get my track rod ends off to change the boot on the steering rack but I just cannot do it! for one im not 100% which bits im supposed to be undoing not that makes much difference because nothing seems to be moving. Here is where im at (the ball joint is not the issue by the way):

Which bit should be loosened, is it the big nut in the middle from the track rod or does the whole track rod attack to the rack with that big nut? also if wd-40 ain't working then should i try some heat?

And once its done, should i be replacing the track rod end because some of youtubes methods seems to rely on the end still being attached at the joint and look like ti could damage it?

You need to split the ball joint off the hub. Then the big nut at the end of the track rod should be slackened and the track rod itself then turns off. You need to count the number of turns as your replacement needs to go back on in the same place.

yeah its all sorted now, it was already off the hub just very stubburn to twist off the inner tie rod

You have to turn the nut clockwise to move it away from the track rod, always seems a bit strange as usually clockwise is to tight things up..
glad you got it sorted anyway. 

Right, now ive moved onto the otherside and there seems to be an even bigger problem! the inner tie rod that has the ball joint that connects to the steering rack does not have what the other one has (the one i worked on at the start of the post) which allows you to put a wrench on it and crack off the end tie rod!! its so seized on that nothing will grip onto it to be able to undo the end!

If its original, only one side was adjustable.

oh right... well surely there is some way of replacing the tie rod end?

you can`t replace the track rod end..you have to replace the whole track rod..not too expensive though..think around £20 from vw heritage or avs vw spares.

damn well that explains a lot, i did try and see how easy it would be to remove the whole track rod and there isnt enough clearance to remove it easily so does that mean ill have to take the whole steering rack off? :/

I think you`ll be able to do it in situ, pull the gaiter down the track rod as far as possible or cut it off if you are renewing anyway, then on the inner end of the track rod you`ll see the `knuckle` which has flats on (32mm spanner) and a lock nut (27mm spanner),crack off the lock nut in the same manner as you did the other side track rod end and the `knucle` simply unscrews from the rack body you may need to lock the steering over to the opposite side to which you`re working on to help with access though.
I`ve just done mine although I had the rack off anyway.

thanks for that will give it a go when i have the time, just ordered a complete tie rod

It can be done with the rack on the car, there's not a lot of room, you have to move the steering so you can get better access to the lock nut and track rod. I could not fit a spanner on the locking nut as it was in the wrong position to fit a spanner on so I used a pipe wrench to loosen the the nut as they had a bend in the design of them. You might not have the same problem or have better spanners than I have.