Date: Fri, 13 Jul 2007 23:24:42 -0400
Reply-To: David Milo <dellaone@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: David Milo <dellaone@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: tie rod removal
In-Reply-To: <53ab9f5f0707130813k75f8adeanb976a5df1690a55b@mail.gmail.com>
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And of course, since your rack is still installed in the van, a bench vice
will be "inconvenient". So will be access to the dimpled area of the washer.
Buy a cotter pin extractor (from Sears or wherever), and a few good
"Vice-Grip" pliers of appropriate dimensions. Use some aluminum can stock to
pad the jaws of the Vice-grips as Jim suggested, extend the rack on the side
you are removing, and remove the joint from the rack (right hand threads,
looking at the top of the joint, righty tighty, lefty loosy). Pretty
straight forward, no need to un-dimple the lock washer on removal, yes it
will come undone.
The real problem will be dimpling the new lockwasher on installation; due to
clearance and other anthropomorphic issues, this can be very difficult with
the rack installed. This is where the cotter pin extractor comes in handy.
Find a place in the rack extension that you can wedge a screwdriver against
structure, and then the cotter-pin extractor against the screwdriver, in
order to use the tip of the extractor to fold a section of the new
lockwasher into the groove of the new inner tie rod joint to lock it in
place.
Just make sure that the joint is properly tightened and the lock washer
properly dimpled, before whistling down the road again.
Dave
On 7/13/07, Paul Guzyk <pguzyk@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> First loosen the locknut on the adjustment part of the rod where it
> buts up against the tie-rod end. Much easier to do this while the
> ball part of the tie rod end is still connected to the steering
> knuckle.
>
> Then remove the cotter pin (if equipped) and castle nut. If it is a
> newish tie-rod end it may have a nylon locknut instead of a castle
> nut.
>
> Are you replacing the tie rod? If so you can bust it out using a
> pickle fork but a better way is to use a puller, (acting as a pusher)
> to separate them.
>
> Use an appropriate puller from the kit shown in the first photo here:
> http://californiavan.com/frontend/80-84lowerballjoints/
> Try obtaining the kit (or similar) from your local FLAPS that rents/loans
> tools.
>
> After you tighten the bolt on the puller (pusher) you'll hear a loud
> bang and the tie rod will break loose. This is normal!
>
>
>
>
>
> On 7/13/07, thomas LaPointe <vanagonmail@gmail.com> wrote:
> > couldn't find out how to remove an inner tie rod in my manual. there
> appears
> > to be a pin/tag that needs to be removed before turning it off. advice
> > needed here. thank you, Rustfalia
> >
>
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