'05 and Later Rack Question

[Jaime]

I just took apart the steering rack from my '05 WRX and the inner tie rod ends were ridiculously hard to get off. No rust at all, just stuck. Anyways, my question is about the lock washers - mine didn't have them. The online parts diagram doesn't show washers for the newer style rack, but the factory service manual references them.

Does anyone think the lack of washers may have been responsible for the stuck-ness? Should I use them when reassembling?

[Rasmus]

Does anyone think the lack of washers may have been responsible for the stuck-ness? Should I use them when reassembling?

Nope. They're just stuck. If it didn't have washers on there when you disassembled it, I'd trust engineers at Fuji Heavy, and reassemble it that way. Maybe with a dab of blue thread-locker.

[Xusia]

I reassembled mine without those washers. I used red Locktite just to be sure, but I'm not worried. If it did start to unthread you would notice the increase in toe out before it becomes a problem.