Working on a 1998 V-70 with a SMI steering rack

So I was trying to loosen the passenger side inner tie rod, and the part it screws into rotated instead of tie rod coming loose (pipe wrench on inside slipped). After coming loose, it would unscrew by hand. I rotated back into position and re torqued.

My question is, did I spin the rack itself? or is there a threaded part inside before the toothed part of rack. The rack seems to operate smoothly on lift, and car steers OK in test drive. Am wondering if I did some damage that will show up later, or how to determine if I did do damage, like break a retaining pin or something..

If anyone has ever had this happen and have rack & pinion problems later, or has taken apart this type of rack and knows its internal structure, I would appreciate some help. Thanks,

 

There is nothing to spin inside a rack and pinion steering system. You will be fine unless a seal broke and it is leaking all over your driveway now. If you are worried turn the system to either side at full lock. That is when you have the maximum pressure on the power steering system. If there are any problems it would show up then.

 

Apparently there is, probably the power steering actuator is not one piece. Note the marks on tube extending out of passenger side of rack. I took the boot off the other side to confirm I was not spinning the rack itself. I torqued whatever it was back pretty tight, hopefully no reatining pin was broken.

Last picture is the blue point inner tie rod tool on a 3/4 drive ratchet. How I mistakenly loosened up rack. Got to remember I am not working on a truck, haha.

Good news is I got the inner tie rod off this time, found the peened down tab, ground it off, and used a little heat to defeat any threadlock.

 

Ahh I see. You are way into it with inner tie rod end tools and all. If you were into a truck it would not use rack and pinion. Other than that it seems like you have it under control. I have never heard of setting up preloads or gear patterns on a rack and pinion system.