I'm trying to remove the inner tie-rods from a Cortina steering rack... but how the blinkin' flip do you get them off?

I see the ball-housing has opposing 'flat' spots and that there appears to be threads on the rack-end itself. Is it simply a case of using a shift spanner and gorilla force to twist apart!?

I used stillsons on my Sierra rack. I assume your Cortina rack is the same.

Yep "just" unscrews. They can be fecking tight to get moving. There are special tools (like big stud removers to do them in situ but a spanner on the flats or stilsons will do it with the rack out, as long as you can hold the rack.

Cheers fellas... I didn't want to give it the full beans just in case I'd missed some secret ejector-button only known to a select few!

Just had a look in my cortina haynes manual and it shows a locking pin, that is fitted between the balljoint housing and a locking ring. These pieces are used to set the preload on the joint.
It also states the old pin has to be drilled out carefully to avoid damage to the rack if drilled too deep

Description
[Edited on 2/5/12 by Bigheppy]

[Edited on 2/5/12 by Bigheppy]

A-ha! Found the pin (under the grease!).

Glad you updated to say it needs drilled out, or I'd still be scratching my head!

Watching this with interest

Let us know how it goes scott

All done...

Pin Drilled -



Separated...



Apart...



Et voila...