It is pretty clear to me he is talking about the tie rods. There aren't inner and outer, only left and right. If he had said "tie rod ends" then your question about which might be useful. The burr he mentions is the locking thread used on some cam racks where the joint has no flats or lock washer. He knows he can use a pipe wrench (what I use) but is interested in how it is supposed to be done. I have a sneaking suspicion more than one professional auto mechanic has a couple plumbing tools in his bottom drawer.

If the boots, especially those from Groton, give you a pain in the butt, just apply some KY or dielectric grease, whichever you can get your hands on quicker.
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-K (hope springs eternal)