Tie rod bolt frozen

[mdukti]

Hi,

New to the forum and fairly novice mechanic. I posted a thread about taking apart the rear suspension and replacing it myself. A couple members mentioned that the front suspension was not as bad as the rear and as I am planning on doing the whole thing, I decided to start in the front. I am following the instructions here:

http://classicbroncos.com/forums/showthread.php?t=144905

So far it has been going OK; however, as expected, everything is really rusted. I am removing the tie rods and drag link. I had some trouble getting the nuts of, but now that they are off, the bolt threads are frozen in place. I tried a block of wood and a big hammer, but no luck. Any other suggestions? I am thinking that I will replace them after they are out so I am not super concerned about damaging them. I have attached a picture. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

 

[ilovemaui]

A couple of things to try are hitting the knuckle with a hammer to break it lose. If that doesn't work you'll need a pickle fork or a tie rod puller. You can probably rent them from Autozone.

 

[deltarat]

Place a sledge, if you have it, or a 3# hammer on one side and rap hell out of the opposite side with another hammer and it will drop off.

 

[BRONC-HOED]

pickle fork for sure.

 

[mdukti]

Just googled pickle fork. Looks like that may do the trick. Looks like a good time to sit down and watch some monday night football and pick it up in the morning. Thanks guys for the quick reply. Thats awesome.

 

[twisted77]

Pickle forks will get you hurt.!!!!!!

just use a big hammer like said before. and beat the heck out of the knuckle and it will fall out. you might want to put a little down pressure on it with a pipe or pry bar.

Bryce

 

[ilovemaui]

I had one that wouldn't come out. I sprayed it with CRC freeze off and tapped pickle fork in and it popped right off.

 

[Broncobowsher]

Pickle fork is a boot killer. If replacing the joint (and getting a new boot) no big deal. But if you have to put it back together, the hammer trick works great. I use it 99% of the time.

 

[RustyShackelfor]

replacing it, just hit it. itll come out after a time or two. you wont hit it enough to mushroom it probably.

 

[garberz]

Put the nut back on, so it's flush with the threads of the tie rod and hit it with a small sledge.

 

[RustyShackelfor]

Put the nut back on, so it's flush with the threads of the tie rod and hit it with a small sledge.

most of the time when i do this I cant get the nut back off.

 

[spap]

Pep boys rents the tie rod puller for free, get one it will save you a lot of time. If it s that rusted the picle fork will just screw it up and gouge the tie rod. I just did this yesterday and the puller makes it very easy.soaked it with wd 40 for and hour and mine didn't budge with a sledge. With the puller 5 minutes

 

[70_Steve]

And I just did this two days ago. 5# hammer on one side, 2# to rap the other with. 10 minutes and I had the rod ends out of the pitman arm and both knuckles. Took about 10-12 strong raps and they dropped right out.

 

[bmc69]

Pickle fork is a boot killer. If replacing the joint (and getting a new boot) no big deal. But if you have to put it back together, the hammer trick works great. I use it 99% of the time.

Ditto. And I've disengaged many a tie rod end with a BFH that had already stubbornly refused to be budged by a pickle fork. BFH on the side of the tapered receiver always the way to do it.

 

[BroncoDawg]

Pickle fork will destroy the seal if planning on reusing. When they say rap it hard on the side of the tie rod, they mean REALLY hard. Don't pussyfoot around. It will surprise the heck out of you as it drops to the ground!

 

[KyleQ]

Pickle fork air hammer attachment is the cat's meow. If replacing - I usually put the nut back on and hammer away, but it doesn't always come apart re-usable.

 

[Justafordguy]

X6 or whatever, If you hit it hard enough on the side, not the thread/stud, it will come out no problem. I have removed hundreds of tie rods/ball joints with this method.

 

[mdukti]

Thanks for all the advise. Tried a tie rod puller that I got to use free from Advanced Auto Parts. Unfortunately, that did not work for me. Maybe if I had a bit more patience. Big hammer and lots of pounding did the trick. I did try putting the nut on the stud for one and hitting that. That also did not work for me. It got the stud out, but then the nut was stuck on the stud. Thanks again.

 

[Rustytruck]

By the looks of the stud next time knock out the cotter pin before you unscrew the nut. When using a pickle fork dont try to wail it in until it busts loose just wedge it up really tight and then whack the stud or the side of the knuckle with a heavy hammer. Use the pickle as a down ward force and the shock of the hammer to upset the attachment.

 

[mdukti]

I spent some time trying to pull the cotter pin out. It was pretty rusted and did not was to be prior loose. The impact wrench sheared what was left of it off after I got done mangling it.

I am pretty happy about progress, however, the nut I put on to hit the stud through is still stuck. The stud just spins when I try and remove it. I am thinking that I will have to cut it off.