Outer tie rod bolt spinning when installing the castle nut

[Teddlet]

Howdy,

I replaced the inner tie rod on my 2004 4x4 4.0L tonight and was planning on reusing the outer tie rod end, but when I go to put the castle nut on, the bolt that goes up into the ball joint starts to spin when the nut reaches the pin hole. Am I missing something or do I just need to head down to the parts store and get a new outer tie rod in the morning?

Also if anyone has a tip for getting the clamp back on the inner tie rod boot I'm all ears!

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[bobbywalter]

pry some load on it so the taper frictions...it will tighten up.

 

[adsm08]

Do what Bobby said. Take a pry bar and put some down-force on the outer to hold the stud in the cone. They are supposed to be able to turn, sometimes it makes for trouble getting them together and apart.

As for the clamp, forget the clamp. Replace it with a zip tie. That boot is only there to keep dirt out of the socket joint and off the rack gear. It is not mean to seal in fluid or anything.

 

[Teddlet]

Awesome! thanks fellas!

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[adsm08]

An impact wrench helps greatly in most cases too.

 

[Denisefwd93]

And if the end of the threads are mashed from somebody, hammering on them it wasn't me!!