Tie rod ends, what size pickle fork?

[allan5oh]

What size pickle fork am I going to need? That bastard was smoking hot, and i was dropping a 20 lb dumbell on it repeatedly, nothing.

Somebody should've told me I needed a pickle fork! Or is there a puller?

[allan5oh]

NM, got them bastards off. Had to get somebody to torch the tie rods though!

[Maniac]

That bastard was smoking hot

I wouldn't want to heat anything on the steering with a torch, thats a heat treated part, you heat it and take the temper right out of it.

If I saw a mechanic take a torch to my steering components, he would need some medical assistance..................quickly!

[Windwalker]

That bastard was smoking hot

I wouldn't want to heat anything on the steering with a torch, thats a heat treated part, you heat it and take the temper right out of it.

If I saw a mechanic take a torch to my steering components, he would need some medical assistance..................quickly!

Steel does not change any of the tempering charastics until the heat goes over 300 degrees F. While I've never seen a torch with any kind of heat calabration, I have seen guys use dry-ice to get the parts very cold, then a propane torch to heat up the outer piece. When it came apart, you could almost hold the parts in your bare hand.

[Blind Driver]

I've just taken the nut loose, then smacked the end of the steering linkage with a 3lb hammer until the tie-rob drops loose. Don't smack the tie-rod, but the linkage that it goes into.

[LOAD IT]

I've just taken the nut loose, then smacked the end of the steering linkage with a 3lb hammer until the tie-rob drops loose. Don't smack the tie-rod, but the linkage that it goes into.

This is the way to remove a tie rod. No fork or heat needed.

[bob h]

Lots of these ends are near impossible to break free. RULE # 1 - NEVER HEAT STEERING COMPONENTS ---- Yes, it does remove the temper and leaves the metal brittle, susceptible to breakage.

If you do hit downward onto the tie-rod stud, make sure you support the under side of the tie-rod arm with a jack, etc. otherwise, the arm will "spring" and absorb much of the hammer's force.

My preffered method, when they're stuck ; Jam a "pickle fork" (a ball joint fork for pick-ups) between the tie-rod end and arm as tight as possible, then strike the end of the arm full force with a man-sized hammer (no 3 or 4 pounders) ... maybe 10 to 20, sledge iron!!! Remember to hit this straight on, it will "spring" from any other angle.

If that don't break 'er loose... you're gonna have to work on your swing ;0)

NO HEAT!!!

[bob h]

That bastard was smoking hot

I wouldn't want to heat anything on the steering with a torch, thats a heat treated part, you heat it and take the temper right out of it.

If I saw a mechanic take a torch to my steering components, he would need some medical assistance..................quickly!

Steel does not change any of the tempering charastics until the heat goes over 300 degrees F.

How much heat do you think an acetylene torch is capable of??? 3,000 F... or more. I can make your cast iron steering arms melt, and then flow like jelly using a common service bay torch... shouldn't that affect temper?