So, I am working on my fathers 94 AWD Aerostar. The drivers side tie rod end gave out today, so I was taking care of it for him. Easy job, right?

Get everything taken apart, and am trying to get the tie rod end off the tie rod, and the damn thing JUST WONT COME OFF! My locking pliers are starting to strip off the splines on the tie rod, adn I am clamping those suckers down as hard as I can. I have PB Blastered the hell out of the threads too, no joy.

What am I going to have to resort to? Heat? Am I going to have to torch the threads to get the thing off?

Argh.

Jay

 

Heat the tie-rod. I'm pretty sure a lot of people will be against this, but it won't hurt. You probably won't even have to get it glowing red either.

 

Hi Jay,

Welcome to our FTE forum

 

Welcome!

Heat is pretty much the only way to go, I don't know why so many people are against it, especially on old tie rod ends. Your only other choice is getting a new rack and tie rod ends.

 

after heating, put a candle against the threads and melt some wax into threads. old mechanics and blacksmith trick.

or use PB Blaster after heating.

clean the threads with a wire brush and coat the threads with a high temp moly brake grease. sticky and stays forever.

rigs that are driven on salt water beaches or salted roads are the worst

 

Torch wins.

Had to go and buy one, but its worth it. Heated that little ******* up, and eventually it gave way, but took waaaaaay too much effort. I am betting that was the original end. Had no boot, it was wiggly as a worm.

I will be replacing the rack adn the other sides tie rid end in a bit, this side jsut had to get done 'right now' so he could get some work done.

Thanks for the help guys!

Jay

 

heating tie rod have a bottle of water not too far..

try to nock nuckl in tie rod area. sometimes it helps

 

It was not removing the rod end from the knuckle, that was the easy part. I had a puller.
It was unscrewing the tie rod end from the tie rod.

Jay

 

Use wrench like this.


Try WD-40, heating and nocking.....

 

Welcome!

Heat is your friend.
I had to heat up my differential to get my fill plug out. A little more spooky so close to the gas tank but there were no fumes.

 

Heat, let go cold againe and try to anscrew. You'll win! Prometheus!

 

Pablo,
I DID get it out.....yesterday. Thats what it meant when I said 'Heat wins'
The torch enabled me to unscrew the damn tie rod end.

Sorry for the confusion.

Jay

 

May be someone used thread lock....???