Tie Rod Ends| Classic Motorsports forum |

AndreGT6 Dork
1/9/12 6:38 p.m.

Well the FIAT is fighting me.

Ball joints and tie rod ends are never fun tasks.

I bought a new kit figuring my normal fork was a bit wide for the job.

Same results with a narrow one.

In the end I removed the whole setup so I can do this from my bench.

I'm tempted to try this.

Per Schroeder Technical Editor/Advertising Director
1/10/12 5:49 a.m.

BFH on knuckle to pop tapered shaft out?

Rhodyspit75 New Reader
1/10/12 6:14 a.m.

I used needle nosed vise grips on my Spitfire ball joints. They act just like a fork but are small enough to do the job. Just hit the adjusting knob to jam them into place then hit the nut with a hammer.

Robert Bowen
1/10/12 2:12 p.m.

Don't use forks, they damage stuff. The pusher type like you have shown are my favorite, that's really the only way to get them out in re-useable condition.

BFH on the knuckle is my favored junkyard technique, usually with another 2 lb drilling hammer acting as backup. But be careful, some cars have really soft steel and it will permanently deform. Learned that one on a Toyota...

AndreGT6 Dork
1/11/12 5:14 p.m.

30 seconds! Thats how long the new tool too to do its job.

I now am going to buy a proper tool to deal with the ball joints since they will not come free either.

gjz30075 Reader
1/12/12 9:19 a.m.

Nice! I've not seen one with a swivel end. Where did you buy it?

Greg Z

rconlon HalfDork
1/12/12 1:10 p.m.

That is the tool. I am looking at this job again and will buy these tools. The pickle forks deformed and needed a lot of force.

Cheers Ron

AndreGT6 Dork
1/12/12 5:24 p.m.

Tie Rod End remover.

http://www.princessauto.com/pal/product/8355828/Steering-And-Suspension/Universal-Tie-Rod-End-Remover

Ball Joint tool. I'll report back tonight if it works.

http://www.princessauto.com/pal/product/8004135/Steering-And-Suspension/Ball-Joint-Separator

AndreGT6 Dork
1/12/12 9:13 p.m.

Ball Joint.

http://www.124racer.com/gallery/12/0112-Ball-Joints/index.html

Err tip. Leave the nut on the ball joint. The upper unit left with so much force it hit the ceiling. Denting the dry wall. Very happy no one was in front of it.

$35 tool once again made 2 days of fork and hammer work seem childish.

GregW New Reader
2/1/12 12:35 p.m.

Even if you only have to do this once the right tool is worth the price. This is why I have four tool boxes and a cellar full of tools even though I do very little of my own work these days.

AndreGT6 Dork
2/1/12 3:20 p.m.

Yeah learned long ago. It was worth trying without at first, but totally will be adding the tools the race weekend kit too.