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Many online suggestions for removing tie rod ends but few pics of those using whatever-tools-you got-lying-around. I thought I'd lend a picture of one that I used today: a small gear puller & plumbing pliers to keep the two arms from slipping off. I turned till it popped. Works well
Hmm.. I heard about that trick before... but I could never get it to work; probably not hitting hard enough. I'm too scared to move the knuckle arm lol
This is the best tool for popping the tie rod ends out. Similar idea to the puller set up in your pic except it's designed for this so it's a bit easier to get it into place.
This is the best tool for popping the tie rod ends out. Similar idea to the puller set up in your pic except it's designed for this so it's a bit easier to get it into place.
Really not. That tool rarely works and also causes damage to the boot.
Really not. That tool rarely works and also causes damage to the boot.
Mine works every time, and never damages the boot. They're designed to avoid that. I've heard of cheap versions breaking if the stud is really stuck, but I have a decent one and it has never happened to me.
This is the best tool for popping the tie rod ends out. Similar idea to the puller set up in your pic except it's designed for this so it's a bit easier to get it into place.
+100 these are awesome but that "CRACK" when the tapered pin pops loose is a scary sound.
sometimes it damages the boot but in my experience the only time you'd use one of these is to replace that ball joint anyways...
Mine works every time, and never damages the boot. They're designed to avoid that. I've heard of cheap versions breaking if the stud is really stuck, but I have a decent one and it has never happened to me.
I guess I’ve probably only tried the cheap ones and some better quality ones may work especially if the joint isn’t seized too tight. Problem I see is, if the joint doesn’t budge, and you continue to tighten that bolt, something is going to give and may cause a safety issue. There is no “clutch” there so it’s pretty much the judgement of the operator. I’m not a good judge on that so I’ll stick to my hammer method which works every time, doesn’t damage the boot and is pretty safe.
I guess I’ve probably only tried the cheap ones and some better quality ones may work especially if the joint isn’t seized too tight. Problem I see is, if the joint doesn’t budge, and you continue to tighten that bolt, something is going to give and may cause a safety issue. There is no “clutch” there so it’s pretty much the judgement of the operator. I’m not a good judge on that so I’ll stick to my hammer method which works every time, doesn’t damage the boot and is pretty safe.
I've used those with good success as well. I don't usually rely on the tool to do the job al by itself, however. Once I build some pressure on it with the tool, I knock the side of the piece the pin is through with a claw hammer as with the other method described, and it pops apart 'less explosively' than with the tool alone.
hitting it hard with a hammer will not work if the tapered pin is basically bonded to the steering arm.
On my boxster last week the pin was so stuck I had to remove the entire wheel carrier, cut off the arm (ruined the control arm) and put it in a 12 ton press to get the ball joint out. Hours of PB blaster, banging with a BFH, and MAP torch did not loosen it.
Sometimes and I mean sometimes, if you hit the control arm on both sides simultaneously with two hammers, it will pop the joint out of the control arm..Used this technique on a Jaguar once and my Ford van several times with some success. A pickle fork can help too if you aren't worried about the boot.
03-15-2020, 08:58 PM
Removing Tie Rod Ends with Puller
