Question About Tie Rods - B7200 HSTD 4WD

[ttj49]

I'll be removing and installing both tie rods. Do I actually need a tie rod puller, or can I just tap the old ones from the bottom using a wood block and hammer and break them loose? Don't want to spend the money on a puller if I don't have to......Thanks..

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

I'll say no, you don't want to run the risk of breaking the arm, you just need a cheap pickling fork, I think I paid $5 for mine, or if you go to an auto parts store a lot of them have free tool rentals.

 

[Kubota_Bob]

Hi,

I'll give you trick to use for ball joints and tie rod ends to break free........

Take a the heaviest hammer that you own and put it behind the tie rod taper area and with another hammer hit the area of the spindle or steering arm that the taper enters....

Hitting with a hammer that uses a back-up will not bend the taper area or steering arm....

When using this trick on ball joints just back off the retaining nut a few turns to allow the ball joint taper to pop free, but still keeping the spring under control....

I hate pickle forks because they destroy the rubber boot that keeps dirt out of the joint....

Good luck,
Bob

 

[Billdog350]

Three ways to get those out easily. My favorite is to use an air chisel with a point on it and put that in the middle of the tie rod bolt once you have loosened the nut, it will press the bolts out quicker than a pickle fork or hammer 9/10 times. Pickle forks also work mint. Last is a hammer on the tie rod bolt once you have loosened the nut, however like others have said you're risking breaking the arm.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

A pickling fork may destroy the rubber boot, but if I'm going to the trouble to change the $25 joint I'm going to use a new $2 boot for it.

 

[Kubota_Bob]

A pickling fork may destroy the rubber boot, but if I'm going to the trouble to change the $25 joint I'm going to use a new $2 boot for it.

Sometimes you have to remove the ball joint or tie rod end without replacing it.................

When changing a spindle, steering arm, pitman arm, steering box etc., if the ball joint or tie rod end are good then why change them out?????

Or you could keep a supply of boots and replace them needed...

Bob

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Sometimes you have to remove the ball joint or tie rod end without replacing it.................

When changing a spindle, steering arm, pitman arm, steering box etc., if the ball joint or tie rod end are good then why change them out?????

Or you could keep a supply of boots and replace them needed...

Bob

I get your opinion or point. My thought on the matter would be, if you're getting into those situations more than once you are clearly having issues! Fix it one and fix it right!

 

[ttj49]

Hey, thanks all....good suggestions. The boots on the old tie rods that I'm removing are trashed, so I'm not concerned about damaging them. The new tie rods have new boots. I'll see how tight the old ones are when I'm ready to install the new ones. They're very sloppy now with lots of wobble, and may not be a huge problem removing. In any event, if it looks like the hammer trick is going to do some damage to the arm, I'll get a fork and pry them out, or rent a puller...thanks again.

 

[Kubota_Bob]

I was just trying to help with another way to remove taper fits......

Guess I won't be doing that anymore

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

I was just trying to help with another way to remove taper fits......

Guess I won't be doing that anymore

Why get all bent out of shape?
We all have our methods and they all have there points, good and bad!