Removing tie rod ball joints

[strap-on]

Hey, I had to replace the lower ball joint on the Honda, and to do this you have to take the whole steering knuckle off which means i pretty much have to fu*k the other ball joints with the ball joint separator to get them off.

Now i've been looking at the tie rod ball joint and wondering, instead of taking it off (using the highly scientific method of counting the turns as i take it off) to get it into a press, is it possible to just use a puller to push it out of the tie rod, this would be good if i could do this for the upper ball joint as well so i don't have to take off the upper a-arm

cheers for any good gen

[sergei]

If you mean that you are going to press on to the thread size, it would probably not work because the thread would compact making itself fatter and permanently jamming the balljoint int he hub. It is no too expensive to replace balljoints anyway at the same time, that is if the proper ball joint separator tool is not cheaper. Try hammering the side of the hub while appling upwards pressure to tie rod.

[SUBARUCONVERT]

dude all you need to do to pop the tie rod end is.... loosen the tie rod end nut, leave it on the ball joint! now hit the section of the hub that has the ball joint in it very hard. if it doesnt pop the first time keep at it, trust me it will pop the taper and ur away

[evil_si]

dude all you need to do to pop the tie rod end is.... loosen the tie rod end nut, leave it on the ball joint! now hit the section of the hub that has the ball joint in it very hard. if it doesnt pop the first time keep at it, trust me it will pop the taper and ur away

dont just keep hitting it, you will fu*k it, get a decent pry bar and try and pry it apart and hit it

[strap-on]

Yeah i got the tie rod out of the steering knuckle, my problem is that i split the ball joint boot doing so, what i want to know is how to press the tie rod ball joint out of the tie rod itself

[tex]

This is general info. Some cars you can just unbolt the balljoint from the lower arm like in the ae9x. The techniques works for ball joints/tie rod ends etc.

Don't bother using a separating fork tool. I have never found one that doesn't stuff the joint boot when you use it.

Don't try hammering the threaded end even with a nut. You will never get it off like that. You might get lucky....but probably stuff it before you do.

Get a proper screw/press type separator....$$$$$$!!!!!!

or

Hit the hub taper with a club hammer. Good solid hit will separate it. I do it this way and have done it this way for years. Becarefull of abs sensors etc. Don't try and do it with the rest of th hub loosend off. Place a jack under the joint if need be, but make sure it got a solid base when you hitting it. Useless when trying to hit something and it slopping around.

TEX

[SUBARUCONVERT]

dude all you need to do to pop the tie rod end is.... loosen the tie rod end nut, leave it on the ball joint! now hit the section of the hub that has the ball joint in it very hard. if it doesnt pop the first time keep at it, trust me it will pop the taper and ur away

dont just keep hitting it, you will fu*k it, get a decent pry bar and try and pry it apart and hit it

Dude i do this like 2 maybe 3 times a day at work, pry bars dont do much, im not talking about hitting the ball joint itself, hitting the hub to shock the tapper and pop out the joint, hitting the thread is moronic. this causes no damage to any part, i say leave the nut on so if you miss the hub (which you will) it wont damage the thread

[evil_si]

try and use a pry bar and apply weight on the tie rod, as well as hitting the body, it makes it a lot easier.