tie rod help needed quick before school starts

[surfsnake2]

schools starts in a few minutes and i have removed wheel, cotter pin, nut and now i am stuck i have no idea how to use this tie rod puller can someone show me a diagram or picture of where to put it i cant get the tie rod to budge

[zeiss150]

Looks like your going to miss school my friend. The tie-rod puller (a pickle fork) should look like a big 2 pronged fork. If you stick the pronges between the end of the tierod and the stearing knuckle then hit the pickle fork with a BIG hammer a few times and it should just pop off. don't be shy about hitting that thing as hard as possible you wont break it. Thoes tie rods ar on there really tight.

Good luck, Matt-

[LanceM]

Stick the forks between the upper part of the rubber boot and the steering arm, and pound on the end of it with a BFH, should come apart in 3-4 good wacks.

[beandip]

if you have a compressor I have one that works with a air hammer let me know . I am in beaverton. Gary

[surfsnake2]

well i seperated the tie rod from the knuckle but now i find that it appears as though the tie rod nut is stuck and rusted so any ideas on how to get this off?

[ChrisA]

Lots of penetrating fluid and maybe a torch to heat up the joint. Works for me every time. Just dont set any rubber bits on fire!!!!!

[surfsnake2]

maybe something without a torch? im using liquid wrench right now... but nothing yet

[zeiss150]

try a pipe wrench and a cheeter bar (its a 4 or 5 ft. pipe that slips over the handle of the pipe wrench). If you get a nice 5ft pipe you should be able to break that nut loose no problem.

Good luck, let me know if it works.

Matt-

[Walter Moore]

Without a torch you might be in trouble. I had to heat mine red hot with an oxygen-MAPP gas torch to even get them to budge.

But the amazing thing is that if you get it really hot, the lock nut usually is totally loose. (and it melts the rust completely away.)

torches are smelly, and expensive, but for some jobs nothing else works.

[surfsnake2]

but it feels like its gonna break the inner tie rod or something like inside should i be worrying about this

[Walter Moore]

Yes, it is very possible to break bolts of the size that attach to the tie rod ends by using a breaker bar.

That is why I really recommend heating the tie rod end. By heating the outside of the assembly it expands and loosens the nut and tie rod end.

I do not know if just heating it with a regular propane torch will do the job, but trying to twist loose a heavily rusted bold is a quick ticket to a broken bolt.

If you really can not heat the thing, try soaking it in a bucket of diesel fuel or light oil overnight. I don't know that it will work, but it is a lot better than having to replace the steering rack ends.

[surfsnake2]

so i can get ahold of a good torch at school but that means i have to remove a bit more so whats the easy way to remove this thing or what do i have to do to take this thing to school or do i have to remove both outer tie rods and the whole long thing?