Popping the tie rod ends

[Skibbe]

I'm having trouble popping the tie rod ends out of the front control arms on my Charger. Both sides.

In the past, I've been able to bash them out with a hammer. No dice this time. Pickle fork isn't working either. Is there any special puller tool that would work to drive them out?

I'm about ready to cut the tie rod end off the steering rack...

[dodge80_89]

You could maybe use a jack on the tie rod end and jack it up, using the cars weight to help push it out. That or try heating it up with a torch and try again.

[Skibbe]

Oh yeah, I tried the jack method also. I was able to lift the whole front end of the car up on the bottom of the tie rod end...

And yes, I did pull the nut off the bottom...

I'll have to try heat next.

[slasky]

Try the jack again and pound the side of the control arm with a hammer.

[overlordsshadow]

Do you have a 6 foot steel pry bar and a helper? WD40, heat, hammering and leverage should get them off unless they have 'welded/corroded' together.

[contraption22]

Defintiely try putting some heat and PB blaster on it!

[jre97]

You could try a ball joint press if you could find one small enough to grab on. Heat will usually do the trick if you put some pressure on the tie rod end, get the casting good and hot and then if it hasn't popped already smack the casting with a hammer.

[turbovanman²]

This works everytime, get a BFH, and hit the side of the knuckle, where the tie rod end is but hit it toward the front, this flex's the knuckle and it pops out. Used this trick for 20 odd years and it has never NOT worked,

[tryingbe]

BFH is the key.

[Skibbe]

This works everytime, get a BFH, and hit the side of the knuckle, where the tie rod end is but hit it toward the front, this flex's the knuckle and it pops out. Used this trick for 20 odd years and it has never NOT worked,

Seriously? So I hit the cast steering knuckle, not the tie rod end? And front meaning hit the rear of the knuckle toward the front of the car?

That sounds easy enough, I'll just have to reassemble the knuckles, since I don't think it would work with everything flopping around. I pulled everything apart to get the axles out of the trans, since I couldn't bust the 32mm axle nut loose either... even with 400something ft/lbs from the impact gun. (I didn't have a very successful weekend, but atleast the engine/trans combo is on the ground now)

Thanks for all the suggestions guys!

[turbovanman²]

Yes, it works. Well the tie rod is at the rear of the knuckle, so you want to hit the mount towards the front. I wish I had a picture. Ok, the "P" is the tie rod mount, with the round point the rear, the line is the front. Now, you hit the round part towards the line, to it elongates the hole and the tie rod will pop up. Make sense?

[slasky]

Try the jack again and pound the side of the control arm with a hammer.

This works everytime, get a BFH, and hit the side of the knuckle, where the tie rod end is but hit it toward the front, this flex's the knuckle and it pops out. Used this trick for 20 odd years and it has never NOT worked,

I guess it sounds better when Simon says it.

[Skibbe]

I guess it sounds better when Simon says it.

Especially since the knuckle is attached to the tie rod, and the control arm isn't...

Thanks though, I now know what you were trying to tell me to do.

[raccoon]

BFH is the key.

+1

just beat on it the part of the knuckle where the tie rod goes threw. keep at it and she;ll give. you may need a bigger hammer.

if all else fails, you can use a joint splitter but this will ruin the tierod end.

[BadAssPerformance]

+1 to smacking the knob holding it and not the ball stud itself... vibration is your friend

[ShelbyTurbo]

You could take two hammers and smack the knucle where the tie rod is at the same time, if you can time it right and swing them hard enough it should work.

[TurboJerry]

Spray them periodically with penetrating oil for 3 or 4 days. then it should be easier. I use a 10 lb sledge and a narrow pickle fork.

[Turbodave]

I use my favorite hammer "Bertha" to caress the knuckles and it almost always works for me.

[turbovanman²]

You could take two hammers and smack the knucle where the tie rod is at the same time, if you can time it right and swing them hard enough it should work.

You should never hit 2 hammers together, they can chip and the chips can do nasty things to the human body,

[slasky]

You should never hit 2 hammers together, they can chip and the chips can do nasty things to the human body,

Not according to mythbusters.