tie rod troubles/question?

[XJ99]

I took my stock tie rod off and In order to do this I had to use a tie rod press to pop It out of the knuckle side and drag-link side, now when I go to put the tie rod back in (on both sides) It pops back in the hole but when I start screwing the nut on the tie rod end bolt...It spins with the nut and I cannot get the tie rod to tighten, what am I doing wrong? Only thing I can think of is I need air tools to get the nut to spin fast enough (faster then the bolt) or I need some kind of re-presser, to pop It back in the hole tight? I dunno what am I doing wrong?

[XJ_ranger]

hit it in there with a hammer - the taper will keep it from spinning...

the torque spec on thoes is 55 Ft-Lbs

hit the rod end in there with a hammer a little bit...

you are trying to cause the taper of the rod end to contact the taper of the knuckle and create enough friction to hold the end from spinning...

OEM tech btw.

[XJ99]

cool thanks I figured It out another way....It wouldnt stay when I hit It with a hammer so I turned the wheel with enough tention to the left where It held the bolt and I was able to put the nut on...thanks! oh yea what happens If you dont torque It the right amount? I Just used a ADJ hand wrench til It was tight? I have no torque tools

[XJ_ranger]

not tight enough will cause you to wobble out your knuckle, and cause steering looseness and death wobble

too tight will kill the TRE and cause a feeling of steering looseness (with a dead TRE)

basicaly - go to Sears soon and spend 50.00 on a 1/2" 20-150 ft-lb click style torque wrench - i like having mine around and use it often...

it is a valuable tool that gets most everything but setting up gears and some rediculusly tight stuff done for me.