In a message dated 26/01/2005 11:33:56 AM Eastern Standard Time,
LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:

Bad idea  if not impossible.  With the rack mounted to the car the tie  rod
locking notch is on the topside of the rack and it would take some real
doing to
perish the locking crimp so that the tie rod could be wrung  off.  Once the
means of locking the tie rod has been lost, the tie rod  is useless.  All
this is
moot, anyway, since the rack has to be off  the car and clamped in a bench
vise
in order to R&R the tie  rods.

Excuse me, but I have been changing racks and  boots for years now using the
unscrew the tie rod from the rack method.   The tie rod end has flats to grip
with a wrench.  Great force applied and  it moves.  Unscrew then do what you
have to then screw back the tie rod end  and tighen with big wrench and force.
No problems ever.

Cheers,

Frank  Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
_BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm)  a VW Camper
camping event, Almonte, ON, June 09 ~ 12, 2005
'87 Westy, '90 Carat &  Lionel Trains
Member: _Vanagon List_ (http://www.vanagon.com/) , _LiMBO_
(http://www.bcn.net/~limbo/) , _IWCCC_ (http://www.westfalia.qc.ca/)  & _CCVWC_
(http://www.ccvwc.ca/)
Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in  the Ottawa Valley
_STEBRO/Vanagon Stainless Steel  Mufflers_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm)
_Frank Condelli &  Associates_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html)
or  http://frankcondelli.com