tie rod end replacement

[MomoSmoothie]

Ok Im hoping somebody can offer me some short notice advice (trying to get this thing up and running on the road for the weekend and it's just one thing after another). As I'm assembling the steering damper Im finding i cannot for the love of me get the nut to tighten on the ball joint that connects to the steering arm. The stud on the ball joint of the damper just spins freely as i tighten I've tried using a c clamp and other methods of pressing down on the ball joint so that the stud seats better but nothing is working.

Do i need a new damper now??
Can I just drive without the damn thing??

Edit: the stud also spins while i try to unscrew it. So currently im stuck with a loosely fitted steering damper that won't budge either way. Thinking ill just drive it this way until the thing rattles loose.. and meanwhile order a new unit, grind the old thing off when it comes in.

 

[BILT4ME]

Ok Im hoping somebody can offer me some short notice advice (trying to get this thing up and running on the road for the weekend and it's just one thing after another). As I'm assembling the steering damper Im finding i cannot for the love of me get the nut to tighten on the ball joint that connects to the steering arm. The stud on the ball joint of the damper just spins freely as i tighten I've tried using a c clamp and other methods of pressing down on the ball joint so that the stud seats better but nothing is working.

Do i need a new damper now??
Can I just drive without the damn thing??

Edit: the stud also spins while i try to unscrew it. So currently im stuck with a loosely fitted steering damper that won't budge either way. Thinking ill just drive it this way until the thing rattles loose.. and meanwhile order a new unit, grind the old thing off when it comes in.

Yes you can drive it without one or with it in the position it's in. You may feel some clunking.

It is a tapered shaft, hopefully you didn't grease or oil or antiseize it before assembly. They're supposed to be dry.

 

[Somebodyelse5]

I was just able to remove my TRE's from the links almost by hand. Gotta love the dry desert!

 

[blk80]

If you have a welder just cut the ends off and weld a bolt on it. Saves messing around for days if it's really stuck.