TIE ROD & DRAG LINK ENDS SEIZED....

[dogboy]

I could use a little helpful input here, as I'm quickly exhausting my bag of tricks. Here's the breakdown:

O.K., the entire steering linkage is sitting on the work bench, the linkage tube is secured ("blue-torqued") in the vise, all of the ends have been doused repeatedly with Liquid Wrench for several hours now, and I've even hit one with the propane torch, all to no avail..... the mother f'er's won't frickin' budge!!

Gotta get 'em out so I can drop the new ones in and get the truck back on the road for the weekend - anybody have any miracle tips?

Thanks in advance,
-dogboy- '87 FJ60 with the #$%^ing stubborn tie rod/drag link ends....

 

[lowtideride]

remember there lefthand threads...so dont tighten them when ya think your loosing them up...

 

[lowtideride]

oh i used a screw driver and twisted it in the lil groove at the end of the tie rod to spread it apart a lil and soaked it in PB blaster...worked wonders..then later bent the tie rod and bought a new one all with in about 2 weeks..ughh but thanks agian cdan

 

[lovetoski]

hmmm...I think your's are on really tight...I used a plumbing wrench (a pipe wrench?) to turn the rod, while the ends were locked into the vise. No worries about damaging the TRE's as they're getting replaced. You can put a pipe extender over the pipe handle to increase leverage.

My most difficult part was popping the TRE's off of the steering arm on the knuckle. I pulled so hard, that when they finally popped off, I did a backwards somersault down the sidewalk. Tools flew everwhere.

Good luck.

 

[dogboy]

My most difficult part was popping the TRE's off of the steering arm on the knuckle.  I pulled so hard, that when they finally popped off, I did a backwards somersault down the sidewalk.  Tools flew everwhere.

BWAAA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!! now that would have made for a great video...... fortunately I missed out on that part of the swap otherwise we would both be ready for the circus

sounds like I need to find myself a big 'ol Rigid pipe wrench and put the TRE's in the vise versus the connecting rods and get after it

now I know why Toyota ships new connecting rods with their replacement TRE's, albeit at 3x the cost of a high quality aftermarket replacement. good thing I went with the aftermarket option.....

thanks for the input guys - I'll let you know how I make out,

-dogboy- '87 FJ60

 

[lovetoski]

Dogboy,

Actually, I only told you part of the story. It gets worse (or better, depending on your point of view!). Not only did tools fly, but my glasses flew off. I'm not totally blind w/out them, but - hey - I do need them. So there I was crawling around on my knees, among the bushes, trying to find my glasses and my tools. At least the TRE was off though...No question, it would have been great to have on video.

Hope your repair goes well.

Best Regards,

 

[dogboy]

YES!!!!! VICTORY IS MINE!

one 14" pipe wrench, a can of Liquid Wrench, and a few "new" words later and the old TRE's came off with nothing less than a full 200 lbs. of body weight applied to the wrench end...capital suggestion on that tool, without which, I'd still be out in the shop cursing

can you say "anti-seize compound"? -- new parts got the threads well coated upon install

thanks again good cruiser heads,

-dogboy- '87 FJ60