Thanks Dean B for looking, I think what you saw on YouTube was what I saw.  The guy made it look so easy.  The negative comment was from a curmudgeon guy on Facebook---actually, he is a brilliant guy, but he died recently.  Anyway....my situation is that I have a narrow one-car garage; I have no floor jack or jack stands for that reason.  So here is what I am going to do:  My Vanagon took a massive T-Bone collision (guy ran red light).  It drove fine, but after closer inspection, that's when I saw the bent tie rod.  At my age (71 in September) and with no lift, limited tools, I am going to take it to a shop, and those are hard to find but I have one in mind who just happens to have an experienced Vanagon mechanic from a shop that closed a couple years ago.  Yes, I will pay through the nose; I don't care.  But what I want is for the guy to ALSO look around for stuff beyond the obvious bent tie rod; the van has 293K miles of mostly gentle freeway roadtrip miles, and I plan to keep it for another 15 years.  Has Subie 2.2, new tranny, every maintenance item is top notch....I love that thing.

    On Saturday, August 3, 2024 at 12:15:42 PM PDT, OlRivrRat <olrivrrat@comcast.net> wrote:  
 
     No links to vid came through,,, Googled that title & found what I suspect

is the vid You saw but did not see that comment,,, Did the guy provide any provide

any explanation for that comment ~, 

    Hardest part I run into is getting that boot back on after TieRod is attached to

the Rack ~

> On 2 Aug , 2024, at 5:29 PM, Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@SBCGLOBAL.NET> wrote:
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> I was directed to this YouTube regarding replacing Tie Rod on Vanagon; another guy commented, "his approach is  a sure way to kill yourself or others. Also a proven way to damage the rack."  I mean, it all looked so simple.  What am I missing?  VW T3: Tie- Rod removal
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>    On Thursday, August 1, 2024 at 07:46:28 PM PDT, OlRivrRat <olrivrrat@comcast.net> wrote:  
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>    If as You say all looks & feels OK, I'd just replace the TieRod,,,
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> If it turns out that the Rack is damaged You can then use the new TieRod
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> with a new rack ~ Just My 1/2cent ~~
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>> On 31 Jul , 2024, at 2:43 PM, Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@SBCGLOBAL.NET> wrote:
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>> I got in a T-bone collision with my 85 Vanagon with Power Steering (a year ago...van is in final stages at body shop).  My Passenger Side tie rod is bent.  Would you say that in general the tie rod is designed to be the "weakest link"; that is, it will deform but sacrificially protect the Power Steering Rack?  Replacing a tie-rod and both inner link to rack and outer link to steering knuckle seems to be pretty straightforward, and there are several YouTube videos describing the step-by-step procedure.  Also, tie rods and ends are quite inexpensive compared to a Power Steering Rack.  I have not seen any fluid leaks from rack, but of course the tie rod end is covered with a rubber boot; also I have not heard or felt any funny noises when driven.  I suppose I could first fix the bent tie rod first....and then watch and wait to determine if Power Steering Rack was damaged.  Advice?
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