Hello all,
My name is Tommy and I'm currently driving a 2004 Chevrolet Impala LS. This past weekend I took on a pretty big backyard job (In my opinion). I replaced the L&R Lower control arms and L&R Inner and Outer Tie rods. My question goes for the reassembly procedure. The manual says I have to bend down the locking ring on the inner tie rod to the flats on the rack. However I cannot get to it to bend, kink, or otherwise move at all like the original equipment. So I just put it all back together (Torqued to 75 Ft Lb.) without bending the lock rings or using any "Loctite". The lack of space makes this job go quite slowly, and I really don't want to disassemble this thing again. My question is: "Would it be fine as is?" without thread locker. I really don't think the old ones moved at all.


I apologize if this is a beaten topic, but I'm concerned about this issue.


Thank you

 

It was designed that way for a reason. I would not trust it the way you left it. It might come loose and apart while driving. I would do it the right way.

 

Thanks for the quick reply! I had that feeling.

I will move this post to the appropriate forum page.