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TR2/3/3A Inner tie rod ball joint.

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K

karls59tr

Obi Wan
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I need to remove this ball jiont at the idler because it is loose. Making a clunking noise when the steering wheel is turned. I don't think it's seated in the taper. Problem is when I turn the **** nut (yes it's a lock nut) it turns the bolt shaft! I tried getting some thin vice grips in there but they wont hold when turning the nut. Anyone have any ideas on how to get this nut off? When I put the ball joint back on I will run a "regular nut up the threads first to make sure the ball joint is up in the taper.
 
Is there any way you can press the ball joint down into the taper to hold the bolt shaft as you turn the nut? A pry bar or big screwdriver for example.

David
 
DavidApp said:
Is there any way you can press the ball joint down into the taper to hold the bolt shaft as you turn the nut? A pry bar or big screwdriver for example.

David
Click to expand...
I'm not sure there would be anything there to leverage the pry bar against to press down on the ball joint but I'll have a look in the morning to see.
 
As a last resort very carefully use a grinder with a cut off wheel or a dremel with a cutoff wheel and score the nut diagonally on one flat of the nut as deep as is safe as not to damage the threads. Take a thin chisel or screwdriver and drive it in the slot. This will reduce the pressure on the threads and make it easier to remove the nut. This may take additional cuts a little deeper as you drive the chisel in. The diagonal cut helps to avoid damage to the ball joint. good luck, Frank
 
Nut breaker, grinder or cutting torch (with care!).

A word of caution...if the joint has been running loose for any amount of time, the female taper is likely worn oblong anyway, and unusable. You very likely will have to replace the tie rod too.
 
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