konakat

I am going crazy trying to get this tie rod end out of the steering knuckle. One side popped out with some persuasion, but this one is impossible. I am using a tie rod end puller as you can see in the picture and have it tightened as much as I can. I have tried the BFH method, and even hit it with the hammer while loaded with the puller. I just got done heating the knuckle with a torch while the puller was tightened as far as possible and then hit it from every angle with the hammer. I'm out of ideas at this point, any thoughts?

Gawernator

I continuously used a propane torch and hitting with a BFH for about an hour. I then switched to an ever BIGGER BFH and after 5 more hits it popped out. The next side came out in 3 tries. Figures.

Dougs951S

^^ need a bigger BFH

Parawhore

Had a very similar thing happen on my '84. After about an hour of wailing on it with a BFH, two good whacks with a pickle fork popped it right out.

Needless to say, the end was completely destroyed by that point.

s14kev

You are doing it wrong. The tie rod end puller should be used at 90 degrees to the steering arm. That way you should be able to hit the steering arm end on. The idea is to momentarily compress the hole that the tie rod end attaches to so that it is slightly out of round and hence will pop out. This is extremely difficult to do when you have the puller mounted the way you have it in the picture.

plumbum

Pry bar and hammer time!

MAGK944

What are you hitting with the BFH? You should be hitting the steering knuckle not the ball joint or pin, hitting the ball joint does nothing.

Biggest hammer you have and a couple of hard blows on the side of steering knuckle is all it takes, no other tools necessary.

You should not be trying to hammer the thing out, just producing a shock wave through the knuckle to separate the joint.

Van

I usually have good luck with a pneumatic impact hammer delivering blows right on top of the threaded end.

konakat

I'll try again with the BFH method, I was hitting the side of the steering arm instead of on end. Thanks for all the suggestions, if I still have issues I'll give the pickle fork a try, I've already melted the boot. I've been hacking at this thing for 3 days, I'm ready to move on.

seafeye

Don't hit it on the threads it won't work.
Get a 5lb hammer and hit the casting. I've never broken one so don't be shy.
A couple of wacks and it will pop out.

konakat

I tried pounding on the end of the steering arm some this morning with no luck, I'll give it another shot tonight.

plumbum

Smack it on the side, have someone put some downward pressure in it it should pop out if hit the right way

konakat

You win my Internet today. Just hitting it on the end didn't work, but turning the puller 90 degrees then hitting the end did the trick. Thanks for the tip.

william_b_noble

for the record, I've always used the fork kind of puller that you hammer on - it has always worked quickly and easily - I've never used the kind of puller pictured.

konakat

I borrowed the specialty tool from Advance Auto Parts, so there was no reason not to give it a shot.