And it ain't too bad.

Put a drop of liquid paper on the "outside" end of the tie rod to mark where the nut threaded on (allows one to get the wheel alignment back in spec). Used the flat that's on the "rod" portion of the tie rod to hold it steady while I broke the nut free.

I used a pipe wrench on the outside of the ball joint casing where it threads into the steering rack and it broke free without any problems. Vice grips will also work in a pinch. Yeah, this left a few chew marks on the metal, but they dressed out with a file. Whole thing's covered with the rack boot, so it's not like it's an appearance issue or anything.

I understand that there's two different styles of inner tie rods for TRW units. The more common one has a smaller threaded stud (about 15 mm in diameter) where it threads into the steering rack. My 740 has a larger stud (about 25 mm) and I haven't been able to locate a replacement from the usual foreign car sources (Beck-Arnley, etc.). Local Volvo dealer couln't ID it, and wanted $80 for the more common one, anyway. Time to give RPR a call, I guess, as I repacked the joint with brake grease to get the car roadworthy and the wife is starting to gripe about the steering getting a little loose.

Bob Mohr

1990 745 B230F

1992 245 B230F