[HELP - 2001 Ford Focus] Inner/Outer tie rod replacement - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

Oblivion · 11-25-2011, 19:01

Hello.

I am trying to replace the driver-side: inner tie rod boot, inner tie rod, and outer tie rod, on a 2001 Ford Focus ZX3.
I have successfully removed the outer tie rod, and the inner tie rod boot. Those weren't of much any difficulty.

The problem:
The ball-and-socket joint has no flat surfaces, no "hex" to grab, or anything else. It is a smooth sphere. I am under the impression it is the ORIGINAL 10 year old part. No "special removal tool" will grab onto it (EG: Crow foot wrench).

How am I supposed to go about removing it (inner tie rod) from the steering rack without damaging anything? I have seen suggestions from scouring the internet. Some suggest you use a pipe wrench, others, a pair of channel-lock pliers. There is a very limited amount of room, though. Making everything very difficult!

Here are three images of how it looks currently (used a spotlight):
- 2001 Ford Focus ZX3 - DRIVER SIDE

Thank you to anyone who can help, in advance. It's heavily appreciated. :)

**Bert** · 11-25-2011, 20:25

It takes a pipe wrench to remove it. Make sure to secure the dack when turning it. Normally the rack shaft is held in a vice and the ring is removed with a pipe wrench.

**djzx3** · 11-26-2011, 07:19

I have always just jacked the car up, turned the wheel so that the side I'm working on sticks all the way out, and put a pair of locking vise grips on it, and she comes right off.

When my GF bent the first focus tie-rod on her 03 zx3, I was like WTF, there is no marks to get a tool on there, but after about 4 hours, I put a pair of vise grips on it, and was able to turn it off. She just bent one on my 2000 focus wagon, and this time it took about 15 minutes to change the inner and outer tie-rod.

If you need to, you can put a little piece of round pipe on the vise grip, and use that to get a little more leverage. Even taping on the vise grips with a small 3-5 pound sledge hammer works too.

Oblivion · 01-27-2012, 18:42

Hello.

First of all: I am sorry for the belated reply. I have been very busy!
Second of all: Thank you VERY much for the assistance. I fixed it shortly the day after.

I had gone to AutoZone and bought a 14" pipe wrench and it worked like a charm.

Thanks, again! :)

**Bert** · 01-27-2012, 18:42

Thanks for the update.