Inner tie rod -what to grab support the rack while breaking it free

[sehaare]

I did the inner tie rod today. There is a place on the inner tie rod to get a wrench on, but there is nothing on the steering rack to hold to try and keep it from twisting when breaking the tie rod free. I knew that I didn't want to grab the machined surface of the rack or I would tear up the seals as the rack when in and out. So I just broke the inner tie rod free without supporting the rack.

What should I have done?

 

[Mike65]

I recently did one on a 2WD Ranger & I did it the same way.

 

[FexplorerV8]

i break them lose with the inner tie rod tool and a 1/2 in impact, no need to hold the rack and pinion

 

[sehaare]

glad to hear that you don't need to support the rack and pinon. I've done them on other makes of cars where the end of the rack had "flats" to get a wrench on so that you didn't twist the rack.

In my case I was able to get a wrench on it pretty easily but ended up using a pipe wrench because it had a longer handle and I needed the additional torque to break it free.