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Tie Rods and Ball Joints

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KVH

KVH

Obi Wan
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I thought I'd repeat a question I posed in another post:

"When disassembling the front end of a TR4, how on earth can I disconnect the ball joints and tie rods without pounding with a pitch fork? I can't stand whacking the car with a hammer and pitch fork, and the modified "Churchill" tool I bought here in Town actually broke--the steel wasn't hard enough. thx
 
Hi,

I posted the following in response on the other thread...

*******************

Hi,

Go to jcwhitney.com and look up ZX881770B

Cheap. Works great on TR tie rod ends and ball joints. No whacking required. I've got a drawer full of other ball joint tools gathering dust. This one works. I don't know why it's designated for VW... it's universal.

Cheers!

Alan
 
Two hammers, careful aim and retracted thumbs. Simultaneously strike opposite sides. One good, sharp hit and the tie rod will fall out.
 
Usually a few solid hits to the side of collar on the spindle where the pin of the joint goes through will pop it loose.
The compression force to the side of the tapered hole forces the tapered pin to back out (usually fairly quickly)
Don't be afraid to hit it.I haven't met a mechanic yet that dosen't own a BFH. (just watch your back swing)
As a matter of fact that's a common motto!
"when in doubt, get a bigger hammer"
I've never had a problem having to pound or drill on a car, no matter how nice. It's what's required for the repair. Today at work I get to drill BIG holes in the hatch of a new Scion TC with 2 miles on it to install a spoiler. Cool!
 
I agree with Alan, the tie rod/ball joint extractor tool is worth the 11 bucks. Moss has them as well. Guess that's why I set my points with a dwell meter, too. Never was any good at "tricks of the trade". There is a difference between knowing the tricks of the trade and knowing the trade. Seems I know neither. That's why I like tools.

Bill
 
I agree with banjo and paul by using the hammer method. When I first got out of the Army in 1970, I was working in a repair shop and was struggling with a pickle fork to seperate a tie rod end. An old mechanic walked up with a hammer in hand, said "Excuse me, here's how it's done". He whacked the side of the joint once with the hammer and it seperated. My mouth dropped to the ground. So, in the all the years since, I've taken EVERY tapered joint apart using this method, and have never harmed any parts. A couple of hardy whacks with a BFH on the collar that encircles the tapered pin will seperate the joint. If you have the room, back up the opposite side from where you are striking with another hammer. The first time you use this method may seem a bit intimidating, but once that joint seperates so easily, you will never again go looking for that "special" tool. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
 
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