• Hi Guest!
    You can help ensure that British Car Forum (BCF) continues to provide a great place to engage in the British car hobby! If you find BCF a beneficial community, please consider supporting our efforts with a subscription.
    There are some perks with a member upgrade!
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Subscribers don't see this gawd-aweful banner
Tips
Tips

My hand hurts [tie rod/gaiter related]

Share this page

Nunyas, jlaird, right now, I'd trade situations with you. My tie rod ends came out like butter after a couple of good shots with the BFH. I just smacked the ring end of the steering arm toward the knuckle; three shots and it was out.

I know that Advance Auto rents a front end service kit which includes a tie rod end puller. Too big to use on our MGs though; I was reluctant to use the BFH at the time. I saw the error of my ways after the 3rd good shot. I think Janel used a floor jack underneath her tie rod end when she did the BFH method, also worked like a charm.

If you go the way of the pickle fork, be doubly careful that you don't destroy the rod end or rip the rubber boot. Disregard if you're replacing them anyway /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif.
 
Oh, I did indeed get em out, BFH worked like a charm, even left the nut on for a bit of purchase. And yes Miss Agatha gets all new wearable parts. She is I hope going to be like new in looks and driveability.

Boy this thing comes apart easly for 48 years old. Last one I did was only about 15 years old and it was a bear.
 
BFH works like a charm on lot's of things... Especially some of the things you "thought" were delicate and breakable...

...when it come to cars. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
eh... I'm not worried about sepparating the tie rod end from the steering arm (I can just unbolt the steering arm from the stub axle assy.). However, I have not been able get the tie rod end to budge from its frozen position on the tie rod! The last time I tried I ended up just soaking the threads in penetrating oil and calling it a day after 3 hours of trying.

I'm going to give it another go, but if I can't get it this time I may just take it to the local LBC "specialist" and have him change out the gaitors and refill the steering rack... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif
 
Update...the nut is on there and it's not giving up it's position anytime soon.

I've soaked it for two days in penetrating oil, tried turning it with a regular wrench and even a set of vise grips. I quit when the hex started to round off (I'm going to file the flat back though). I tried separating them with a pair of wrenches, squeezing their handles together.

I think at this point, I'm better off to take it to my shop and let them put some heat on it, then buy a new set of rod ends and locknuts. It's hard to tell at this point if it's just rust taking a firm hold, if someone squirted Loctite in there or Bubba just put all 300 pounds on the wrench.

I even tried using my foot on the end of the wrench (not very professional, but desperate times call for desperate measures!). The only thing I've succeeded in doing was almost rounding off a hex.

If it beats the Blaster, it's FUBAR.
 
Yup: "Know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em..."
 
Yeah...it's a bit of a shot to the old pride though. Better that than to really gum something up though.
 
Sometimes hand tools just ain't enuff, or the one that is just right for the task isn't in the inventory yet. No harm, no foul. You win anyway!

OH! Ask the fellas who do the job to please use anti-seize on it, as you may need to align it in future and would prefer to do it to yourself, as a learning experience! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Back
Top