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  • 1974 - 1978 Mustang II Talk & Tech

Steering Rack Removal

  • Thread starter Thread starter 1WildII
  • Start date Start date May 26, 2004
1

1WildII

Member
Oct 6, 2003
199
0
16
Anacortes, Wa
May 26, 2004
#1
  • May 26, 2004
  • #1
Ok excuse my lack of terminology, but I need help pulling off my steering rack and I think they are called tie rods , where the steering rack connects to the spindle... is there any special way to get it out, because those things dont seem to budge and they are the only things left holding it on. Any help would be great, along with the correct name if I got it wrong. Thanks in advance,

Chris
 

IICrazy

taken away
Mar 28, 2003
976
0
36
Maple Valley, Washington
May 26, 2004
#2
  • May 26, 2004
  • #2
This is probably what you need, which i believe you can rent from auto parts stores

Tie rod seperator

 
1

1WildII

Member
Oct 6, 2003
199
0
16
Anacortes, Wa
May 26, 2004
#3
  • May 26, 2004
  • #3
Cool, thanks for the help.

Chris
 

Blue Thunder

15 Year Member
Mar 20, 2004
1,003
55
68
Upstate New York.
May 27, 2004
#4
  • May 27, 2004
  • #4
(Also doubles as a tuning fork)
 
D

dmoody

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Winston-Salem, NC
May 27, 2004
#5
  • May 27, 2004
  • #5
Those tie rod separators are possibly the worst possible thing to use unless you are changing the tie rods... they always end up busting the grease pack. They make a tie rod puller which hooks around the tie rod then screws down on the end where the king pin/nut goes. That is what I would get if you want to reuse your tie rods. Check out "harbor freight tools" for great prices on tools that you don't use very often. Be forewarned however that nearly all of their stuff is made overseas.

d
 

1970impala

Please God, somebody find me some WHITE CARGO PANE
Founding Member
Jan 22, 2002
1,450
2
38
Pennsylvania
May 27, 2004
#6
  • May 27, 2004
  • #6
dmoody said:
Those tie rod separators are possibly the worst possible thing to use unless you are changing the tie rods... they always end up busting the grease pack. They make a tie rod puller which hooks around the tie rod then screws down on the end where the king pin/nut goes. That is what I would get if you want to reuse your tie rods. Check out "harbor freight tools" for great prices on tools that you don't use very often. Be forewarned however that nearly all of their stuff is made overseas.

d
Click to expand...

CALLING TIM....COBRAII351...WHERE ARE YOU!!!! (he is the ultimate expert on these!!!) seriously.
 

Blue Thunder

15 Year Member
Mar 20, 2004
1,003
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68
Upstate New York.
May 27, 2004
#7
  • May 27, 2004
  • #7
An air hammer will loosen the rod end without hurting the parts.
 
Z

zwhitr

Founding Member
Aug 26, 2001
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Goldsboro, NC
May 27, 2004
#8
  • May 27, 2004
  • #8
Blue Thunder said:
An air hammer will loosen the rod end without hurting the parts.
Click to expand...


I have never used any special tool

just loosen the nut a few sharp wraps on the nut and its loose if that don't work get a bigger hammer

ps. I like the air hammer idea --- thanks Blue Thunder
 

Stang2Man

Founding Member
May 16, 2000
363
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In the Hood of Newbern Beyotch
May 27, 2004
#9
  • May 27, 2004
  • #9
just keep an eye on some of those harbor freight tools, they aren't always the best quality i've had some success with their stuff, but like was mentioned they're made overseas.
 
J

Johan

Member
Jun 12, 2003
81
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6
Waldheim, LA
May 27, 2004
#10
  • May 27, 2004
  • #10
This type is very easy to use.
 

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1WildII

Member
Oct 6, 2003
199
0
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Anacortes, Wa
May 27, 2004
#11
  • May 27, 2004
  • #11
Man I was hoping I didnt have to buy a special tool! Ill try a few "raps" on it and see if it comes off, if not then Ill go get the tool that I will only use twice, or so im lead to believe.

Harbor Frieght is sort of hit and miss with thier stuff, me and a friend bought a welder from them, lets say we got lucky because it still works, but I can tell they have some low quality stuff.

Chris
 

Stang2Man

Founding Member
May 16, 2000
363
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17
In the Hood of Newbern Beyotch
May 28, 2004
#12
  • May 28, 2004
  • #12
Auto Zone loans plenty of tools out and I'm pretty sure that the "snake tongue" that's what I've always heard it called, but anyway, that shoudl be on their loan-a-tool list you may wanna check on the website or just drop in your nearest AutoZone.
 

rufus13

New Member
Apr 20, 2004
13
0
0
chicago
May 29, 2004
#13
  • May 29, 2004
  • #13
I'm a automotive tech...My main job is front end alignments and front end work....

Take the nut off and hit the end of the spindle with a large sledge hammer.....
If you hit it a couple of times...the tie rod will pop right out...

Warning....Do not do this if you are worried about slightly denting the end of the spindle arm...

Works for me everytime......and its fast.....

Just a suggestion....
 

Blue Thunder

15 Year Member
Mar 20, 2004
1,003
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68
Upstate New York.
May 31, 2004
#14
  • May 31, 2004
  • #14
rufus13 said:
I'm a automotive tech...My main job is front end alignments and front end work....

Take the nut off and hit the end of the spindle with a large sledge hammer.....
If you hit it a couple of times...the tie rod will pop right out...

Warning....Do not do this if you are worried about slightly denting the end of the spindle arm...

Works for me everytime......and its fast.....

Just a suggestion....
Click to expand...

Yeah, I used to do that when I was still fixing cars for a living. It "ovals" the hole slightly. Looks ugly, but is effective.
 

mcmmotorsports

Member
Apr 12, 2004
689
0
17
Danbury, CT
May 31, 2004
#15
  • May 31, 2004
  • #15
rufus13 said:
I'm a automotive tech...My main job is front end alignments and front end work....

Take the nut off and hit the end of the spindle with a large sledge hammer.....
If you hit it a couple of times...the tie rod will pop right out...

Warning....Do not do this if you are worried about slightly denting the end of the spindle arm...

Works for me everytime......and its fast.....

Just a suggestion....
Click to expand...

Always worked for me
 
1

1WildII

Member
Oct 6, 2003
199
0
16
Anacortes, Wa
May 31, 2004
#16
  • May 31, 2004
  • #16
ok I have succesfully removed it, I used the hammer trick and it came right out. Now does anyone need a power steering rack? Thanks for the help,

Chris
 
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