Frustration with getting tie-rod ends to come out

[sunrk]

Maybe I'm just a wuss (sic!) but i was trying to get the tie-rod ends to come free on the front steering rod (going from pitman arm to LHS swivel hub arm) however I baulked after getting a bit too jiggy with my nice Hazet tool ball joint tool.

Will have a go again soon. Just wondering where people draw the line at what they can do with their home 'shadetree mechanicing'. I'm pretty good at persisting when I don't have a time deadline to work to since I can take my time and delays/frustrations don't actually cost me money.

Reason I want to get at the tie-rod ends is to do more checking of their condition. My partner hates me at the moment (we have a 11 month old baby girl) and is trying to get me to leave so there's SFA chance she'll offer to help out. So it's strictly a one-person bandwagon.

 

[Ronny Grady]

I searched on mud and got the motivation to get my tie rod ends off - I think I read “man up”

Soak in PB blaster
Get two hammers and beat on opposite sides of the rod around the threads
Ensure pipe wrench is turning the direction to open the cut in the tie rod, not push it together
Blow torch the end

Repeat

 

[secretasiansam]

I used a big bench vise to hold them super tight and used a torch , lots of pb. Blaster and beat on the threads with a hammer.

 

[Cass007]

I bought a too from Advance Auto and it didn't work worth a Will check back it you find a solution other than beating it with hammers

 

[tplane2]

1: Penetrating Fluid
2: OTC Tie rod separating tool
3: GOOD Impact wrench

Doesn't work?

Add heat before step 2.

If it doesn't come off. Torch it off and replace parts.

 

[Sc0-]

Might I also recommend the compressed air in a can, turn it upside down and use the straw and spray where you want it. Remove the nut, clamp the OTC ball joint remover on to apply pressure, freeze the part that the stud goes through or the stud, and it should pop. If not maybe use the universal tool for stubborn objects that should move, aka BFG.

 

[-Spike-]

Heat is your friend.

 

[Tools R Us]

Vibration is also your friend, tension the puller, smack it with a hammer, repeat, until it pops.

 

[nukegoat]

Cut the joint open so its just the ball stud. Clean it up then weld on the top of it. Itll come right out

 

[sunrk]

I don't want to damage the steering box by using excessive force on the end at the pitman arm. My ball joint tool is this one:

pic page

I don't have a way to apply heat but the idea of 'freezer in a can' seems a sensible thing to try combined with a good soak on the taper.

I think it'll become one of those jobs that can't be done quickly since I'm not wanting to damage other things and slowly work through more of the steering items to get rid of bottom-end play and wandering. Tie-rod ends are many times cheaper than a new steering box.

I'm betting when the last guy replaced the tie-rod ends a number of years ago no copper grease or similar was used on the tapers.

 

[RFB]

@cruiserdan recommendation I bought this for under a 100 covers everything including pitman OTC Tools (OTC6295) 5 Pc. Front End Service Tool Set | eBay

 

[Pin_Head]

Use a pickle fork to get the tapered stud out. The pickle fork gets them all and makes short work of it. I have gotten hundreds of tie rod ends and ball joints with my Proto fork with no defeats. 500 to 0. Beat on it hard with a 5 pound sledge. The trick is if it doesn't come right out, put the fork in on the other side and smack it again from the opposite direction. Repeat until done.

If you are talking about the threaded end, use penetrating oil and a 3 foot pipe wench. Get the threads turning before you start on the tapered stud.

 

[mudgudgeon]

Vibration is also your friend, tension the puller, smack it with a hammer, repeat, until it pops.

this is the go, but with the right puller.

the Hazet one you pictured is far from ideal. I had one similar and snapped it in half. You have leverage in the puller working against you.

I have a small Kinchrome pittman arm puller that works a treat. grease the thread, and you can put a metric sh t load of pressure on the tierod stud, then a sharp crack on the side of the steering arm with a good size hammer, they pop out

 

[sunrk]

I actually broke a pitman arm puller trying to get the pitman arm off the old steering box about 5 yrs ago. But worth trying out. Back when I replaced the steering box I had to do the two-hammers thing.

 

[ccslider]

Order new hd rod and ends.
Measure old rod center to center
Swap new rod in.
Align

If you're trying to pop the end out of the taper you can get a puller or pickle fork. Try renting from auto parts store for free.

 

[bigredmachine]

heat and beat, beat it like it owes you money

 

[jonheld]

Get the right tool for the job.
OTC 7315A
Tie Rod End Remover | OTC Tools

 

[ajax1]

Get the right tool for the job.
OTC 7315A
Tie Rod End Remover | OTC Tools

What I have always used never had a issue

 

[Pin_Head]

This is the correct tool:

Just ask @Aloha Jen

 

[jonheld]

What I have always used never had a issue

Agreed. Always works, doesn't harm the boots, doesn't harm the threads, and requires a wrench as opposed to a hammer.