Need real time help with TRE's...

[Wile E Coyote]

Update: It's fixed, thanks to all for your help.



Well, my luck getting 555 TRE's from Kurt has ran out. Got an early start installing the TRE's and have hit a big snag.
I think I just need to get my hands on a good used tie rod and relay rod locally, as the rod ends are rust frozen in the rods.

Yep, using heat, spread the slit in the rod, and previously soaked 'em daily for 5 days, along with several times in the past 2 yrs. I've tried heating the whole rod, and then spraying just the rod end to shrink it quickly. This is originally a Michigan truck, so you can say it's a little rusty.
I broke out the through bolt and ball in one of the offending rod ends, and have a breaker bar shoved through, with the rod in a vice. The rod is twisting, my bench is lifting off the ground ( 300 plus lb bench) and I'm trashing my vice.

This is my DD so any help, particularly a local hookup on good rods quickly, is appreciated.

 

[Pighead]

Well, maybe you could find a good, used tie-rod locally....unfortunately, my experience is that used tie-rods are usually rusted solid and/or bent.
The Toyota dealer has always been very helpful in supplying my tie-rod needs. They are actually reasonably priced and fairly prompt in delivery. And they look really nice when they're brand new, and have the factory sticker on them...
I went through a few before I went hi-steer, but for stock replacement my vote is spending your money on OEM.
It IS your steering, BTW, and one of only 2 or 3 places you don't cut corners.

 

[Mace]

tap with a hammer???

 

[cruiser88]

I had to use one of these to get my junk apart.

Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices

 

[ntsqd]

Might try some paraffin wax. Heat the parts and then melt the wax into the threads.
Might also try hitting the end with a 3 lbs 'tappet wrench' while trying to turn the TRE.

 

[Winston]

You may be better off having new rods overnighted and kicking up your legs and relaxing this afternoon-
there was no way in hell mine were going to come apart and still be useable

 

[Spike Strip]

You may have to bite the bullet and get new rods -- Trouble is, they come with new rod ends !

There's enough rigs being parted, check in the parting out section and I bet there's someone who can send you a set, if you have time.

 

[inkpot]

Well, my luck getting 555 TRE's from Kurt has ran out. Got an early start installing the TRE's and have hit a big snag.
I think I just need to get my hands on a good used tie rod and relay rod locally, as the rod ends are rust frozen in the rods.

Yep, using heat, spread the slit in the rod, and previously soaked 'em daily for 5 days, along with several times in the past 2 yrs. I've tried heating the whole rod, and then spraying just the rod end to shrink it quickly. This is originally a Michigan truck, so you can say it's a little rusty.
I broke out the through bolt and ball in one of the offending rod ends, and have a breaker bar shoved through, with the rod in a vice. The rod is twisting, my bench is lifting off the ground ( 300 plus lb bench) and I'm trashing my vice.

This is my DD so any help, particularly a local hookup on good rods quickly, is appreciated.

Howdy! I think I still have my original tie rod with fairly new TRE's in it. No luck on the drag link, as I went custom Saginaw nearly 15 years ago. I went to high steer from 4x4 Labs, so this will never go back on my Piggy. Ya ever get down to the Phoenix area? I won't have time to dig around for it until tomorrow. John

 

[Wile E Coyote]

Update:
I gave up too early!
When I posted, I had stopped to come in to watch the younguns for an hour. I just knew I was in for a fight, and needed the truck on the road by 1pm, so I threw my hands up at that time.

Got back on the job about 9:30, got an easy one off, and then welded that one to a stubborn rod end at a 90 degree. Welded some 1" squares in the middle of the rod to keep the rod from spinning in my vice (while in the pipe jaws, no less) snugged it into the vice, put the 3ft cheater on the welded on rod end, got it dull red with the torch, and gave it hell. Had to do the other 3 this way, but they all are off, and the truck is back on the road.
Thanks for the advice and offers, guys.

FWIW, for anyone with questionably rusted tie rods, I'd say just replace 'em and not go through what I just did.

 

[2mbb]

when you purchase new OEM tie rod ends (and relay rod ends, I think) you get new tie rods bundled with them. This is because toyota changed the length of the threaded portion of the ends requiring more threads in the rod. When you purchase two tie rod ends you get two tie rods (one with each end).