Although I only need to readjust my tracking once in a blue moon I do get highly frustrated with the need to use a blow torch along with copious quantities of PLUSGAS to loosen the threads. Well I have found a solution in the form of central heating pipe cladding.

http://www.screwfix.com/p/economy-pipe-insulation-28mm-x-1m/38391

Once you have finished your alignment and have tightened the lock nut simply coat the whole section with lots of grease, then cut a suitable length of this to cover the whole threaded portion plus some overlap each side. Fill the internal recess with more grease and then push over the thread. Using cable ties x 3 one at each end and one in the middle to hold in place. This should keep the threads from rusting solid again.

I will take some pics and post them when it warms up a bit.

This seems like a great idea initially, but I'd be concerned that the foam might hold moisture, ultimately making things worse.

Which is why, as stated above, you pack it with grease. As grease has natural adhesion you could always ensure that the gap in the foam is facing downwards further removing any risk of water retention whilst still not suffering loss of grease. However thus far I have not seen any evidence of any water. Grease like most oil based products is completely water immiscible and as such will repel any water ingress.

portland_bill said:

This seems like a great idea initially, but I'd be concerned that the foam might hold moisture, ultimately making things worse.

Click to expand...

It's closed cell foam I believe

Scheiss egal anyway, because it would be wet all the time without the foam round it.

Sinny said:

It's closed cell foam I believe

Scheiss egal anyway, because it would be wet all the time without the foam round it.

Click to expand...

Any foam may hold some water around the tie rod. Some will creep in between the foam and rod, regardless of whether the foam itself soaks the water in.

Left bare, it will only be wet in wet weather, which will then dry out.

Covering the threads with grease is a good idea. Wrapping it, I'm not so sure.

I said it above but it has clearly been ignored or it is posing a challenge to grasp. GREASE is WATERPROOF / naturally repels WATER. (Oil and Water don't mix)

The job of the foam cladding is NOT to keep water out it is to keep GREASE IN !!!. Grease kept in keeps WATER OUT !!

As such I will leave it to those who were wide awake in science class when at school to decide if this is for them or not.

To re-summarise once more

1.) Coat threads with grease
2.) Cut suitable length of pipe cladding foam tubing
3.) FILL this with MORE grease
4.) Fit foam tubing over threads so it covers the entire length and then some either end
5.) Using cable ties make foam cladding secure

Whether the foam has the propensity to hold, absorb, contain etc etc ANY moisture is a point of the highest irrelevance as it has a split along it's entire length, gee what a surprise !!!

What it will do however, IN conjunction with the natural adhesive nature of grease is contain the grease (which as aforementioned in bold above prevents the INGRESS of moisture) and in doing so will prevent the tie rod threads rusting.

Now let's reflect on why you wouldn't simply just coat them with grease and leave that open to the elements. GREASE attracts dust, dirt mud etc which will make it heavy, degrade it's properties and eventually see it fall away once more exposing the threads to oxidation. The very thing one would seek to avoid. Ever wondered why you throw SAND on an oil spill ??????????

portland_bill said:

Any foam may hold some water around the tie rod.

Click to expand...

Pipe insulation won't. Trust me. You did 13 years as a mechanic, I've done over 25 as a plumber. The stuff is designed not to hold water but repel it.