tie rod problem

[mutiny]

Ok I've read all different threads on tie rods but I still can't find the solution... I'm just trying to seperate the tie rod from the knuckle. Cotter pin is out and nut removed, but the damn thing just won't seperate. Is there a trick to this or something I'm overseeing?

[Priceless89]

I used a lot of pb blaster, and a pickle fork.

[mutiny]

is a pickle fork necessary just to get it out of the knuckle? i figured after removing the nut it would just fall out but no....

[Priceless89]

Thats what i expected too. The pickle fork was intended for the knuckle but that didn't work so well. So we tried it on the tie rod and it worked. It shouldn't be necessary but i had a fair amount of rust.

[Priceless89]

If I'm wrong or someone else has a better solution post it, cause mine was just trying different things

[mutiny]

for now im just going to drop all the steering stuff intact with the tie rods still attached to the knuckle. i cant even get the lower control arms to seperate from the knuckle either, wtf is up with these anyways

[silpena]

if u do that u better have new ends. Pickle fork are kind harsh but work very good. One time in class we were trying to remove a ball joint it was so bad we had to use the a pickl fork with an impact. Sounded like a machine gun but eventually came out after like 5 min at it. Thing was tore up....

[mutiny]

im not trying to get the ball joint out of the tie rod. after removing the nut, the bolt extruding from the tie rod ball joint will not come out of the hole so the tie rod is still stuck to the knuckle i really need a special tool and possibly damage it just to seperate the tie rod and the knuckle? guess ill go pick one up tomorrow, i dont see any other way they are gonna come apart

[silpena]

ooo u mean from the knuckle. AS from well if the tie rod is not seperating out from the knuckly then yes u need a scpecia; tool becuase a pickly is pretty harsh for it. If not then i was thinking front joint to steering rack whcih is easy. no special tools just two wrenches to loosen it up.

[wolff7]

There is also a jaw puller you can get. It is a bolt with 3 arms. You just ratchet the bolt and it loosens the tie rod. You can rent it from autozone for free as well.

[srpowered240sx]

my favorite method is to get a cheap nut the right thread pitch, and thread it down after taking the castle nut off. line up the new nut so it sits flush with the threads of the bolt (flat across the nut/thread/nut), then smack the nut with a hammer a few times hard. should break free, then just un thread the nut and remove. the reason you shoudnt do it with the castle is so you dont damage the castle nut, and so it doesnt bend an damage/stick to the tie rod end.