Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 22:49:59 -0700
Reply-To: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject: Re: Tie Rod end removal/Control arm bushings
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hi.
I specialize in removing tie rod ends ......
that tapered thing.
'the way' is to give the end of the steering arm that it sits in ( after the
nut is loosened but not removed ) ....
wahck the hell out of that mother , with a good medium size ball been hammer
......
sharp whacks, not dull thuds . On the 5th to 20th sharp hard whack, the tie
rod will jump out of the steering arm.
Loosen the nut pretty well, but leave it on to protect the threads while you
hammer nearby.
check it once in a while to see if it hasn't jumped out.
other methods -
if you know you're just going to toss the tie rod end ...........pickle
fork. Wedged fork thing - it destroys the boot though.
Pullers - sure .....but pulling on a taperd thing ..........or pushing .I
mean ......
just isn't the same as the hammer method. The few times I've tired it
.....well, ..the hammer method is fast and easy.
Huge affect - shocking that hole dimension in the steerying arm. Makes it
just jump right out.
Related - - same for screws and bolts ......a sharp whack on the end of
those ( like CV joint screws ) ( with a hammer and drift ) ........makes
them a lot easier to unscrew. Major affect. I've had CV screws that felt
like they'd strip for sure after pulling hard on them, after the first go
around of whacking. So whack on that screw some more. Try it again, Stil no,
whack on it five more sharp hard times......and eventually, it'll unscrew.
And so will a tie rod end pop out. If it's an extreme case, and the nut is
downward, so the tie rod end goes out upward, I might jack on it with a
bottle jack ....but still ......sharp hard whacks with a nice medium hammer.
I shortened the handle of my favorite ball been hammer just a litle to get
better control of it.......of a medium ball been hammer ........about 30
years ago. I carved grip notches in it by holding it up to a grinder ....in
a grippy spiral pattern. Your own custom tools are really nice aren't they
! ?
That hammer has undone one helleva lot of tie rod ends. ! :)
----- Original Message -----
From: "Troy" <colorworks@GCI.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, June 08, 2009 10:10 PM
Subject: Tie Rod end removal/Control arm bushings
>I am tackling control arm bushings and tie rod ends this coming week. I am
>assuming since the control arm bushings are pressed in that they probably
>also take a press to remove (after grinding away the spot weld)? Seems like
>a person could use a threaded rod with some fender washers, making sure to
>use a block of wood in between the control arm ends to avoid distortion or
>compression to press the new ones in. What about removing the bushings?
>Any tips here? Better left to a shop with a press? Since spot welding can
>be disastrous to the bushings if not done correctly, what about just using
>some JB Weld? The stuff holds something like 2 tons, and I would think it
>would be totally adequate. One person mentioned he did not weld his at all
>and did not have any trouble--comments? I have a 2WD.
>
>
> Question also about tie rod ends. The Bentley refers to pressing them out.
> I did see one mention in the archives to hammering on the drop arm, (think
> I got that right) which from what I understand temporarily distorts the
> tapered hole releasing the tie rod end. Is there some reason a gear puller
> would not work? I'm not sure what kind of force is necessary here, but
> also gathered just beating the end of the tie rod is not the way to go! I
> can pretty easily rent a gear puller from a rental shop for probably five
> dollars a day. I don't mind trying some of this stuff, but always ask to
> make sure I'm not getting into a can of worms or doing something beyond my
> capability.
>
> Troy
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