Tried to get an alignment yesterday and was told it could not be done due to a bad inner tie rod (I don't even think the rod is bad, but the boot is cracked (Image 3). They wanted $300 to replace plus the alignment which I can't afford right now. So I'm just doing it myself.

I have the outer tie rod off and the cracked boot pushed back, but I'm having a heck of a time figuring out the inner tie rod from following all the random DIYs on the internet.

I rented the tool from AutoZone for inner tie rod removal and it doesn't fit, nor does the "saginaw" attachment they have for it. The attachment does fit the replacement one, just not the one I currently need off.

The new inner tie comes with a "bend over" washer that I've read about on the various How To's, but it doesn't look like the current one does.


Do I just need to man up with the wrench and crank the inner rod free? (Last image) Or is there some unseen tab that needs popped or pulled up for free the joint?

Need to be aligned and back on the road by tomorrow afternoon... so any help would be great.