removing tie rod ends. HELP - Page 2 - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Joe67 · 10-19-2004, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by menlatin

ok, new problem. My pickle fork is not thick enough to seperate the lower ball joint from the spindle. Got 2 from auto zone and still not think enough. what else can i do?

Same issue I had disassembling a front suspension setup I had.
I agree with the spot to hit with a hammer, but I use a piece of plywood or something between the spindle and the hammer, unless you don't mind some nice marks in your spindle

ante_up13 · 10-19-2004, 03:27 PM

1. Loosen the nuts of the balljoints...don't take them all the way off.
2. Take a pickle fork and wedge it in there and if they are 35yrs old like mine were...expect them to take a heavy, heavy, heavy beating before they loosen up. And if the boots are that old they will fall apart anyway.
3. Once the are both popped loose...jack up the bottom control arm where the spring is seated. Lift up just enough so that you can unscrew the nuts off easily and then lower the jack slowly.
4. The spring should fall out easy.
5. To get the factory rivets off the upper balljoint...you can drill them out with a carbite bit and then use a punch to knock them out.
6. I pressed the bottom balljoints in myself with a kit from Harbor Freight or you can take it down to the auto parts store like they said before.
Good luck and expect those balljoints and tie rods to take a while to pound out if they are original. At points when I did it to my truck...I thought those damn things would never come out...but they do, after a ton of beating the hell out of em'.

menlatin · 10-19-2004, 08:53 PM

Alright, some more questions. I've got pretty much all the front end off. Now when i reassmble with new parts, are there any fine tuning adjustments tha ti need to know about, or do i just need to go get an alignment as soon as i get it all installed.

ante_up13 · 10-19-2004, 10:10 PM

alignment is basically all that is needed...

lost wages · 10-21-2004, 12:43 PM

put the suspension together loose and put the truck on the ground, cycle the suspension by bouncing the truck and then torque all the pieces.

Joe67 · 10-21-2004, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lost wages

put the suspension together loose and put the truck on the ground, cycle the suspension by bouncing the truck and then torque all the pieces.

I'm thinking I can torque my front suspension setup before I install the body/powertrain, is this correct?

10-19-2004, 08:53 PM	#28
menlatin Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Denton, TX Posts: 281	Alright, some more questions. I've got pretty much all the front end off. Now when i reassmble with new parts, are there any fine tuning adjustments tha ti need to know about, or do i just need to go get an alignment as soon as i get it all installed. __________________ 72 lwb. living room built 355. Best 1/8mi, 8.85 @ 79. WOOHOO, i didnt break anything!!

10-19-2004, 03:27 PM	#27
ante_up13 Registered User Join Date: May 2004 Location: Here Posts: 167	1. Loosen the nuts of the balljoints...don't take them all the way off. 2. Take a pickle fork and wedge it in there and if they are 35yrs old like mine were...expect them to take a heavy, heavy, heavy beating before they loosen up. And if the boots are that old they will fall apart anyway. 3. Once the are both popped loose...jack up the bottom control arm where the spring is seated. Lift up just enough so that you can unscrew the nuts off easily and then lower the jack slowly. 4. The spring should fall out easy. 5. To get the factory rivets off the upper balljoint...you can drill them out with a carbite bit and then use a punch to knock them out. 6. I pressed the bottom balljoints in myself with a kit from Harbor Freight or you can take it down to the auto parts store like they said before. Good luck and expect those balljoints and tie rods to take a while to pound out if they are original. At points when I did it to my truck...I thought those damn things would never come out...but they do, after a ton of beating the hell out of em'.

10-19-2004, 10:10 PM	#29
ante_up13 Registered User Join Date: May 2004 Location: Here Posts: 167	alignment is basically all that is needed...

10-21-2004, 12:43 PM	#30
lost wages Registered User Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: jefferson city, mo Posts: 1,364	put the suspension together loose and put the truck on the ground, cycle the suspension by bouncing the truck and then torque all the pieces.



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