Tie Rod end removal
#1
Elite Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (5)
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 1,961
Total Cats: 48
Tie Rod end removal
So I am replacing my tie rod ends with 93LE ones. I can't for the life of me get the told ones to even budge. I have a tie rod remover/pickle fork or whatever. I have removed the pin, castle nut, and loosened the jam nut on the inner tie rod. So far, I have succesfully fubared the boot and thats about it. Please advise here...Am I missing something? any other methods to try?
So far: I have tried hitting the tie rod seperator with a 1 lb dead blow, and the flat end of a ball peen.
-I have moved on some to doing the CA bushings, so I have no problems loosening other things up if it will make it easier. I already unhooked the bottom ball joint to get the coilover out and that hasn't helped much.
Give me ideas! Here is what it looks like at this time btw:
So far: I have tried hitting the tie rod seperator with a 1 lb dead blow, and the flat end of a ball peen.
-I have moved on some to doing the CA bushings, so I have no problems loosening other things up if it will make it easier. I already unhooked the bottom ball joint to get the coilover out and that hasn't helped much.
Give me ideas! Here is what it looks like at this time btw:
#5
Former Vendor
iTrader: (9)
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Bay Area, California
Posts: 929
Total Cats: 9
Hit the knuckle with a sledge. Not a miata but the first picture I found on google images.
If that doesnt work, hit it with a sledge while a friend is using a big pry bar to apply a constant force down on the tie rod nut (leave it threaded on a few turns for this method so it catches the tie rod when everything pops loose).
Edit: Oh yeah, and put your lower ball joint back in!
If that doesnt work, hit it with a sledge while a friend is using a big pry bar to apply a constant force down on the tie rod nut (leave it threaded on a few turns for this method so it catches the tie rod when everything pops loose).
Edit: Oh yeah, and put your lower ball joint back in!
#7
Here's what I did.
http://revlimiter.net/blog/2011/03/tie-rod-end-swap/
No need to be worried about your old boot. Feel free to destroy it. And realize you need to hit the thing holding the rod end, not the rod end itself.
Really, about 3 whacks on the end of the pickle fork will do it.
http://revlimiter.net/blog/2011/03/tie-rod-end-swap/
No need to be worried about your old boot. Feel free to destroy it. And realize you need to hit the thing holding the rod end, not the rod end itself.
Really, about 3 whacks on the end of the pickle fork will do it.
#8
Elite Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (5)
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 1,961
Total Cats: 48
So, I should put the pickle fork into it. then hit the knuckle while the pickle fork is in?
I was hitting the pickle fork earlier, but that just made it fall out instead.
I finished up the bushings, so the lower ball joint is in.
I was hitting the pickle fork earlier, but that just made it fall out instead.
I finished up the bushings, so the lower ball joint is in.
#9
Elite Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (5)
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 1,961
Total Cats: 48
btw, I don't care about the boot. I have two new ones going in.
EDIT:
So I tried hitting the knuckle, and hitting the knuckle with the pickle fork in, then having my brother push down on the pickle fork and hitting the knuckle. None worked. I think I need a bigger hammer. I will go by the store and pick up a 2 lb sledge? or should I pick up a 3 lb sledge?
EDIT:
So I tried hitting the knuckle, and hitting the knuckle with the pickle fork in, then having my brother push down on the pickle fork and hitting the knuckle. None worked. I think I need a bigger hammer. I will go by the store and pick up a 2 lb sledge? or should I pick up a 3 lb sledge?
Last edited by Seefo; 11-05-2011 at 08:26 PM.
#10
Elite Member
iTrader: (21)
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 6,623
Total Cats: 1,277
A large ball peen should be enough hammer. On the rod end, where the casting line is, hit that. No pickle fork. Hit that sucker like you're trying to crack that bitch along the casting seam. Should pop right out.
#11
Get the pickle fork on there as tight as you can and then hit the knuckle. When i did that on my jeep (same design, just bigger and beefier... pitman arm) i had no luck with just the pickle fork so i got a puller on the one side, pickle fork on the ball joint side and wacked the pitman arm (kuckle on the miata) and it poped out.
#13
Former Vendor
iTrader: (9)
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Bay Area, California
Posts: 929
Total Cats: 9
btw, I don't care about the boot. I have two new ones going in.
EDIT:
So I tried hitting the knuckle, and hitting the knuckle with the pickle fork in, then having my brother push down on the pickle fork and hitting the knuckle. None worked. I think I need a bigger hammer. I will go by the store and pick up a 2 lb sledge? or should I pick up a 3 lb sledge?
EDIT:
So I tried hitting the knuckle, and hitting the knuckle with the pickle fork in, then having my brother push down on the pickle fork and hitting the knuckle. None worked. I think I need a bigger hammer. I will go by the store and pick up a 2 lb sledge? or should I pick up a 3 lb sledge?
#16
I just did this last night with one of these. Turned the bolt a few times and it popped right out. The first one surprised me because it made a nice, loud pop and the tool fell to the ground. I was expecting the tool to only provide preload and having to wack it with a sledgehammer, but both sides came off easy enough with just the tool. Gray sharpie was used to mark the threads the nut was covering and I counted the number of times it took to spin off the old one. Not sure if that actually matters when the tie rod end going on is different...
#17
I just did this last night with one of these. Turned the bolt a few times and it popped right out. The first one surprised me because it made a nice, loud pop and the tool fell to the ground. I was expecting the tool to only provide preload and having to wack it with a sledgehammer, but both sides came off easy enough with just the tool. Gray sharpie was used to mark the threads the nut was covering and I counted the number of times it took to spin off the old one. Not sure if that actually matters when the tie rod end going on is different...
#19
Elite Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (5)
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 1,961
Total Cats: 48
Yep, bigger hammer got it out in less time than its taking me to post this. 4lb sledge, whack the pickle fork about 3-4 times, voila! Thanks guys, I guess I just needed motivation to buy a man's hammer!