to get a tie rod end off? The locking nut is sezied on there pretty good. I hosed it down in penetrating oil, did the vice grips, big wrench, whole 9 yards! Problem is its on jack stands (no lift anywhere in sight) and i dont have that much room to play with. Dont think its reverse threads. Good ideas would be helpful... Oh, its a manual rack, if it helps...
-
May 21, 2009 11:29 a.m. Rusty_Rabbit84 Reader
-
May 21, 2009 11:33 a.m. Timeormoney New Reader
Heat; just be cautious not to set the penetrating oil into too large a blaze. MAP gas portable torch from the hardware store can do wonders.
-
May 21, 2009 11:44 a.m. John Brown MegaDork
Remove the inner tie rod end from the rack and the outer from the knuckle. place the inner tie rod end in a vice and heat the lock nut, loosen. Attempt to remove the outer tie rod end. IF IT WILL NOT COME LOOSE AFTER THE LOCK NUT IS LOOSE then replace the inner and outer tie rod ends together. Trust me it is a lot easier in the long run.
-
May 21, 2009 12:12 p.m. curtis New Reader
real quick before taking the whole thing off tap the locknut lightly (or not lightly but i didnt tell you to do so) with a small hammer and try to shock it loose ive done that a lot doing alignments and it works, if not do what Mr. john brown had suggested, his ideas will work for sure.
-
May 21, 2009 12:16 p.m. Rusty_Rabbit84 Reader
ive tried with a hammer with a wrech on the end, nothing. just went down the street to NAPA and they said it would cost $85 just to take the old one off and put the new one on - NO way! Gonna figure it out one way or another. Dont have a torch handy, though that is a good idea, and not really looking forward to removing the inner tie rod, but its got to be done...
-
May 21, 2009 12:21 p.m. curtis New Reader
No, dont put a wrench on it and hit the wrench, soak the locknut ITSELF with penetrant and hit the locknut directly with the hammer. Its kinda a neanderthal way to do it but like i said many times ive unfrozen the threads of a tie rod lock nut with pb and good hammer.
-
May 21, 2009 12:22 p.m. curtis New Reader
oh yeah and dont just tap on one side, the idea is to internally break the threads from the lock and the rod loose from each other.
-
May 21, 2009 12:24 p.m. Rusty_Rabbit84 Reader
let me give that a shot...
-
May 21, 2009 12:30 p.m. DrBoost Reader
I second lots of heat. If you have an air compressor do this: Take a big freaking socket (large enough to house the ball-joint end of the tie rod, not the threaded shaft though) about 36mm. But a slot in it so you can slide the socket over the tie rod and have the threaded shaft sticking out of the notch you cut. Use your impact and have fun. basically, make a socket like this
-
May 21, 2009 12:30 p.m. Xceler8x Dork
Headbutt. Just rear back, close your eyes at the last minute, and WHAMMO! It'll come loose or you won't care afterwards.
-
May 21, 2009 12:39 p.m. John Brown MegaDork
Xceler8x wrote:
Headbutt. Just rear back, close your eyes at the last minute, and WHAMMO! It'll come loose or you won't care afterwards.
WWJB do? What Would Jack Bauer do!
-
May 21, 2009 1:02 p.m. Rusty_Rabbit84 Reader
Great Success!!! lil bit of yelling and cussing and it broke loose!! Now to get it aligned...
-
May 21, 2009 3:01 p.m. Fritz_the_Cat New Reader
John Brown wrote:
Xceler8x wrote:
Headbutt. Just rear back, close your eyes at the last minute, and WHAMMO! It'll come loose or you won't care afterwards.
WWJB do? What Would Jack Bauer do!
I thought that stood for What Would Jimmy Buffett Do!
-
May 21, 2009 3:06 p.m. curtis New Reader
Word.
-
May 22, 2009 7:30 a.m. 93celicaGT2 Dork
Nobody mentioned actually using a tie rod tool?
