Tie Rod - Removal ? Any Ideas Pleaseeee

[GT-FOUR]

Howdy guys.

I need to replace a tie rod on the front drivers side, but I cant seam to fathom how to undo the ball join end, engine side, compleley baffled :(

Heres some pics :

There seams to be some kinda gold washer on there that 'may' be bent over, I can un bend this but I cant seam to get access to twist it off, there just no space for a spanner or anything :(

Heres what the replacement looks like :

Any ideas pleaseeeeeeeee how I can un-screw this ball joint thingy off engine side ? I managed to get it off wheel side, but am stuck now

Thanks in advance.

[GT4 BOOSTER]

looks from the pic the long part screws apart from that piece and could stay on the car . you just need 2 pairs of stilstons to remove it.

that ball part looks to have a flat part , is it the same on the opposite side, if so you could fit a spanner over it and unscrew it by the looks of it as the end looks to be threaded.

[martin_longbow]

Flat gold washer is a locking plate. Unbend that as you say then attack with two sets of stillsons, or spanners that fit. I use plumbers foot prints for that very job, they work well on round items needing a grip.

Ensure you have a good grip of the main rack to stop it from twisting, fit new part and bend the washer again. I would also put lock tight on the threads before !Removed! the tie rod into the rack (engine side only)

good luck