Fara

I'm having a pretty brain dead day - looking to drop the steering rack so I can drop the engine out.

Of all the things, I'm stuck on the tie rods. Are these threaded into the mount on the early cars?
Also, what is the thread on the tie rod end? I've tried M12x1.25 and M12x1.5 - neither fits on properly.

Basically, I'm just checking before I give up, mount the crown nut upside down and whack it with a giant sodding hammer.

F40LM

I can tell you they are not threaded in. And I have done the BFH technique to get them out more than once. But try soaking them with liquid wrench a couple times beforehand.

xsboost90

take a large pry bar or screwdriver and apply just a small amount of pressure on the top of the tie rod, by putting the tip of the prybar under the a-arm. Then smack the end of the spindle with a hammer a couple times and the tie rod should fall out.

Van

This is what I usually do...


That sounds good, Dan - I'll try that next time.

xsboost90

works 60% of the time, every time.

John_AZ

I do the "gentle" approach---go to AutoZone and rent the tie rod end remover set. A few turns and it pops out.

You could also go to Harbor Freight and get a Pickle wrench and whack it a few times before your arm hurts, it also destroys the rubber seal.

John

mbardeen

Or get a pincer style ball joint/tie rod separator tool. Mine cost like $40 a couple months ago and has already paid for itself many times over.

Something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/OTC-6297-Ball-Joint-Separator/dp/B0015PN010

Fara

I ended up getting a tie rod remover from repco. I tried both the BFH method and the spindle method, but it was lodged in there pretty damned tight.

Thanks for the suggestions