Stubborn tie rod removal

[datslamd]

I can't for the life of me get my tie rods out. I ended up removing the complete steering assembly to get better leverage and nothing. And I think Rockauto sent me the wrong tie rod ends. Anybody have any tricks for this conundrum?

 

BTW it be a 70' UTE.

 

Lates

[oregondime]

how i got mine off was with some wd40 a big hammer and a nice sized ball joint fork. it should come right off. if not maybe a bigger fork.

[datslamd]

Well I got the pickle fork, it's about 2 feet long. Maybe I need to use a bigger hammer.

 

Lates

[Bleach]

so you can't get the tie rod end out of the steering arm on the hub?

 

I just hit the side of the steering arm (not the tie rod itself) with a big hammer or small sledge hammer many many times. I've also used penetrating oil on a couple stubborn ones. PB Blaster is my new favorite lube. :D

[Green Bastard]

Old tie rod end stuck? Try this if the pickle fork wont work.

 

Unscrew the nut, flip it around and screw it back on, but just before the rod end gets flush with the nut.

 

Now beat that nut with a hammer. With any luck you will pound that tie rod end right out of your steering arm/idler/knuckle.

[slodat]

I've had some that were a bitch to remove, but I've always succeeded with a pickle fork and a 4lb sledge. Hammers are man's best friend!

[]2eDeYe]

Yep...Nothin like a BFH to get the job done right :cool:

[oregondime]

im curious did you finally get the tie rod out? and whos method :)

[Rustbin]

I seem to have this problem with my tie rod ends on my Four Runner. I doused it with penetrating oil yesterday as well as before I started working on it, used heat (propane plumbers torch), managed to get the nut off after destroying what was left of the cotter pins,  then tried prying while holding a BFH against the arm while striking the opposite side with a slightly smaller BFH. This technique worked on my old Ford van when the pickle fork failed but these ends won't budge. Any body know any tricks please?

 

    

[datzenmike]

Put the pickle fork in there an hammer it in tight first. Now give it a good smack like you described.

[Rustbin]

I finally did get the things off after about a month of giving it a shot of penetrating fluid every week then applying a little heat (Butane campstove fuel) pickle fork and a 4lb hammer, even then it wasn't easy. I used the premium ends $50 instead of $16, my safety is worth it.

[Duncan]

I have a friend that actually made his own set of pullers.  You've got to use the correct sized one, but these have always worked like a treat for me.  No beating the shit out of anything, either.

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/403918532346?var=0&toolid=10044&customid=824e09f5-6ffd-4760-a3d2-0e9562ee6bba

 

 

   

[Rustbin]

Thanks Duncan, I wish you had mentioned it sooner.

[iceman510]

This kind works too.

 

https://www.autozone.com/test-scan-and-specialty-tools/ball-joint-installer-remover-tool/p/oemtools-7-8in-fork-opening-ball-joint-separator/787834_0_0?spps.s=81&cmpid=LIA%3AUS%3AEN%3AAD%3ANL%3A1000000%3AGEN%3A22350391884&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22356757832&gbraid=0AAAAADkcoVsUK_35yy4U8zrEHmw7pzxt2&gclid=Cj0KCQjwxdXBBhDEARIsAAUkP6hLxSvL5fDsgAqmgwnZACjiP6tmMffFknN-FhaIiSWPVXkMtVF_gR4aAhoREALw_wcB&new_store_set=true

[Duncan]

11 hours ago, Rustbin said:

Thanks Duncan, I wish you had mentioned it sooner.

 

Yeah.  I don't always catch every thread.  I recently put some new steering rack bushings in my hot rod which involved removing the tie rod ends, so I think the topic caught my eye.  

 

Sometime in it's life, someone had beat the living shit out of the spindles on that car trying to remove the tie rods, and I've been considering replacing them because of it.