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MG MGB Technical - Help with Tie Rod End Removal

I am trying to replace the tie rod ends on my 68 MGB, as the rubber boots around the ball joints have disintegrated. I searched the forum and tried to use some of the solutions presented: striking hammers in opposite directions, steering hub puller, etc. The end that goes through the steering arm is not budging. I got out the hacksaw and sawed through just above the steering arm. I tried again with the hub puller but go nowhere. Any ideas on how to get the threaded piece out of the steering arm? Thanks for your help.
Jack Caulder

There's a tool that's kind of like a small steering wheel puller. There's no way that won't work, and it won't ruin everything in the process. Those pickle fork things are pretty rough on the car. I think you can get what I'm talking about from Eastwood, etc. ... it's probably $10-20. I'll ask the guy I recently borrowed same from where he got it. As far as the two-BFHs thing, I think you have to know what you're doing or you're bound to screw everything up.
Ted

I have a small steering wheel puller - it didn't budge the tie rod end. In fact, it bent the arms on the steering wheel puller.
Jack Caulder

I've tried purpose-wedges, pickle fork, cup-shaped ball-joint remover and nothing touches them, they either bugger the boot or the tool bends/breaks. The only thing that works is the 'scissors'-type device - see the second item on this page: http://www.mytoolstore.com/toolaid/suspn02.html - and I even had to modify that before it worked. The bolt has to be screwed in so far on the MGB (at least) that it ends up pushing on the lower lever at an angle and things just start bending. I built up the end of the lower arm with weld and shaped it with an angle grinder so that the bolt always meets it at a right-angle and now it works a treat.
Paul Hunt

Jack,

I'll second Paul's 'scissors'-type device worked well for me. Mine was purchased from JCWhitney.

It can generate quite a bit of pressure, so I wrapped the tie rod end and "device" with cloth to capture the potential flying parts once they let go. No BFH required, just caution.

Good luck.

John
John Smith

I've had success with the 'gear puller backwards' method. This is where you use the center bolt to 'push' the threaded part through the hole in the steering knuckle.
Since the tie rod end is shot you may try drilling a hole through the center to relieve pressure.
Try applying heat just to the steering knuckle. Be ready for the left-over grease to catch fire though.

Mike
Mike Phillips

I tried some of the methods described above, but what worked after all that was to put a jack under the joint - and apply some upwards pressure on the threaded section (with the nut slackened off of course). Then a tap with a hammer and apart it came.
Caution - not too much force from the jack, not too much of a blow from the hammer!

The part I found even harder was trying to tighten up the nut once I'd replaced the tie rod end - it took ages and required a fair bit of swearing under the breath!

John
John Minchin

This thread was discussed between 14/04/2003 and 15/04/2003

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