I have been to all 8 local auto stores and none have the type of inner tie rod removal tool needed for a 96 accord lx. Loaner or for sale.
I even bought a crows foot set and the width of the crows foot doesnt slide into the gap to seat onto the 19mm nut/flange.

What tool will work?

Ive seen this on amazon

But what width is the correct one to make sure I have? 17mm?

 

Here is what the connection looks like of the inner tie rod Im trying to remove, it looks a little different than the placement rods nut. Its got a flanged washer type looking backer plate.

 

Heres the replacement Im hoping to install. A 17 mm.

 

I tried this rental and it failed. Not enough clearance to fit over to remove, or enough to fully tighten even if i could get it off somehow.

 

That flanged washer is the lock washer, you need to bend those tabs flat against the larger cupped washer to unlock it and then use two open end wrenches to loosen the inner tie rod.
It's pretty critical that you do not wrench on the tie rod wthout preventing rotation of the rack as this can damage the pinion gear.
It looks like someone may have been in there before you. If memory serves right that cupped washer should be cupped towards the rack, not towards the lock washer.
This may be what is preventing you from using a normal wrench in between the spherical bearing and the stud...
It looks like the cupped portion is towards the inner tierod rather than against the rack which is inhibiting you from disassembling the inner tierod from the rack.
New tierod should have come with a new lock washer.

 

Sounds easy but how should I bend it flat? Can a flat head screwdriver get in there and bend the tabs back? There is a brace right under the access point that is making it tricky.

One open end wrench a 17mm I assume on the flattened lock washer area, and the other open end wrench on the shaft thats angular past on the other side of the spherical bearing housing? I hope I can get access, that brace is making it hard.

Can you help me understand what you mean here? It sounds like I need to keep the wrench thats on the cupped washer side that I flatten from moving while I turn counter clockwise on the wrench on the shaft?

I hope thats why, Ill try bending that lock washer tabs flat, I guess with a flat head screwdriver?


Heres a pic showing the brace I mean thats in the way of getting access.

 

After some more searching I found this diagram, it says 4th gen on the title of the image file name but I think the 96 accord I have is 5th gen. Looks similar though.
From this I can see the position of the wrenches needed. I have a 17mm but I will probably use a crescent wrench for the 22mm.



Assuming I get this thing off here is a pic of the replacement part I ordered.



The order is lock washer then washer on reinstall?

 

Flat head should be able to catch it, thump on the back of the handle to 'chisel' it open, then jam the screwdriver in the gap and wedge it open. Sometimes they peel back fairly easy, other times it'll fight you every mm.
Unlock the column and turn the rack to full lock, anywhere in between should give you a place to get a wrench on it. Fairly sure at full lock you can easily work on the inner tie rod in the wheel well.
Yup, once you get that washer out of the way you should be golden. Move the rack in and out til it is in a position that you can work on.
You want the rack to not rotate, that needs to be held with a wrench stationary. The inner tierod that you are removing/replacing is what you will turn.
Whatever it takes to get those flanges bent back.



^ there ya go. And your own pictures are correct for the order of parts.

90-97 Accords are the same chassis-wise.

 

Thank you very much Mad Mike! Ive now got the drivers side tie rods installed as instructed and now onto trying to put the rest together on that side. Ill update my other thread with what we've covered here to help any other person who takes on suspension work on a 96 accord and gets in over their head.