Breaking inner tie rod ends loose

[Pgbarrow]

Hey guys,

I have a couple stuck inner tie rod ends. Is this a job for a pickle fork? (Just returned my rental yesterday) Do you guys have any other suggestions? I've hammered on it (as I can) and tried to use a press, but did not have enough space to line it up.

Thanks,

Paul

[TDCTDI]

BFH (I use a 48 oz) & strike the pitman arm. You may want to thread a nut on the threads to keep from damaging them in case you miss. Pickle forks destroy the boot & sometimes damages the tie rod end.
_________________
Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.


GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!


An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.


Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it.

[Pgbarrow]

Hum, not following you on that one. How does hitting the pitman arm drive out my tie rod ends? Also, is there another ball joint in the steering clam/box thing? I'm getting tires of ordering parts piecemeal.

Thanks,

Paul

[eashc]

Just had a tie rod that was stuck. Took a day and a half to break free. Keep soaking it with PBlaster

[Frodge]

Kroil works even better.

[TDCTDI]

Penetrating oils aren't going to do much for loosening the wedge mated connection that the tapered ends of the tierods have. 2-3 strikes of a heavy hammer will jar it loose.

In your picture, you can see that shiny glare on the pitman arm just above the threads of the tierod, that's pretty much where you want to knock the living sh*+ out of it with the BFH. It's counterintuitive but it does the least amount of damage to the components. Again, loosely thread a nut back onto the tierod end to keep from damaging the threads just in case you hit them.
_________________
Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.


GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!


An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.


Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it.

[JKLNHYD]

EverTough 67008
I rented it from Oreilleys for $35, you can access all of them.

_________________
Jon
1971 1776

[60ragtop]

just whack it with a BFH, you are not going to hurt it. Loosely put on the nuts first.
_________________
Rick
Certified Mechanic by the State of Michigan in 1977
ASA certified in 1987
Certified Hunter Wheel Alignment Master Technician 1986

[Chochobeef]

Don't whack it with a BFH. That's a good way of putting undue stress on the steering box. Got get the right tool at whatever tool place you have near you.

Look at this page and the tool you want is in the lower left. You can get a full front end kit like this, or just the individual tool. If you are replacing the tie rods, then you can use a pickle fork as well (which is how I did it).

[TDCTDI]

[beetlenut]

I used a small two arm puller to pop all my old tie rods off. As suggested, thread the castellated nut on to protect the threads. The trick is heat! I tightened the puller down, and then used a propane torch to heat the end of the rod until it just popped off. You need heat to expand the metal of the wedge mated connection of the tapered ends of the tie rod.
_________________
scrapyards are for quitters
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[60ragtop]

heat near the gas tank I don't think so.
My tool box is full of specialty tools for working on bugs and the best one for this job is a well placed whack with a BFH.
you can take off the kids gloves when working on these inanimate objects
This is why most shops don't let the customer in the work area, they would be offended that you are ruining their precious vehicle
_________________
Rick
Certified Mechanic by the State of Michigan in 1977
ASA certified in 1987
Certified Hunter Wheel Alignment Master Technician 1986

[Q-Dog]

I beat on a lot of things with a hammer, but not a steering box. Use the pickle fork or other removal tool.
_________________
Brian

'69 Dune Buggy
'69 Beetle Convertible
'70 Beetle

[60ragtop]

if you aim it just right you don't have to worry about hitting the steering box.
_________________
Rick
Certified Mechanic by the State of Michigan in 1977
ASA certified in 1987
Certified Hunter Wheel Alignment Master Technician 1986

[Q-Dog]

[beetlenut]

[TDCTDI]

[Cusser]

I use this
http://www.harborfreight.com/tie-rod-and-pitman-arm-puller-62708.html

or Autozone free loaner tool
_________________
1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297

[60ragtop]

I'm glad I learned how to work on cars before Al invented the internet.
really
_________________
Rick
Certified Mechanic by the State of Michigan in 1977
ASA certified in 1987
Certified Hunter Wheel Alignment Master Technician 1986

[Q-Dog]