Tie rod removal

Hi all. Could anyone shed some light on the best way of undoing the tie bars on my 1990 gti cabby??
Access seems restricted even when i turn the steering wheel and can't seem to be able to get a wrench in from any angle.
Have also read one of them has a left hand thread but vwh told me and sold me 2 tie rods exactly the same.
Also the chap who tried to do my tracking mentioned that one of them was a fixed type and couldnt be adjusted anyway.
Any pointers gladly received.

Cheers

It's hard but you need to go in from below, I had to find a thin spanner to hold the tie/track rod so I could move the locking nut, you need to turn the locking nut away from the track rod, I think I used some water pump pliers to loosen my locking nut you only need to turn the locking nut a little bit so you can unscrew the tie rod.

 I guess it all depends on where your locking nut is as I could not get a spanner on my locking nut.

I just moved the steering rack about till I could just about get my hands in.

Something like this.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Neilsen-Slip-Joint-Plier-Water-Pump-10-Groove-Joint-Adjustable-Head-Steel-8B/370718278363?epid=16004178212&hash=item56508802db:g:y4QAAMXQydtTNDhK


The none adjustable track rod is the on the passengers side, if you are replacing it you will need a new track rod and new track rod end, you should be able to see the difference in the track rods.

Fit some new track rod boots and re-grease the steering rack while you have it all apart. Also good time to centralized your steering rack so you have the same amount of turns from straight ahead to lock to lock, you may need to remove the steering wheel to get is straight then get the tracking set up. 

Inner's are a pain, you have to get the car up in the air, and use a pipe wrench on it, or to use a inner tie-rod removal tool. IIRC it is like a 17mm.

That is how I have done it.  You can possible get a wrench on it from underneath.

You can take the one piece off, and use the two pieces inner and outer, and I thought that all the later cabriolets used the 2 piece rods but I too have had a fellow tell me that they where a one-piece rod, and that the Camber wasn't adjustable…  I took my car from there, and found another shop that really wanted my business.

Over here you can still get the one piece rods, but the last time I ordered one it was 2-piece.
They list in the parts as inner or outer.  If the inners are bad then you can get separate inners and outers which makes it more bearable in the future just make sure that you use Never-Seize on them including the outer shaft.

Makes changing them a whole lot easier and your alignment guy will love you for it.




 

Sound advice as always chaps. Have managed to do all the donkey work today with a few spanner slip injuries to the knuckles😫😫😫but should have them both off tomorrow so will let you all know how it goes..
Thanks again.

There is some measurements in the Haynes manual which you can set the track rod and ends, this will get you somewhere near but I recommend getting the tracking set up at a garage once you have finished.

Try not to move the locking nut on the steering rack to far away from where it was so you know how far to screw in the new track rod.

Ok so job done. Just to clarify, both the tie rods and track rod end fitted fine.
Passenger side was a fixed tie rod and not a left handed thread in sight.
Anyway, quite a fiddly job but another one to cross off the list. Booked her in for a 4 wheel alignment Thursday so happy days.
Thanks mark1gls and briano123 for the input.

Glad you managed to do it, as you found space is tight working on the track/tie rods.

Always happy to help if I can.