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- November 6, 2000
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- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2018 EX Sport Concept
What's the best way to pop the center link tie rod end out of the pitman arm?
Specifically the stock center link tie rod end that's been in the stock pitman arm for 19+ years, if the idea is to pop it out to change the boot, then put it back.
The tie rod end on the center link is fine, so I don't want to destroy it, nor do I want to damage the power steering pump or pitman arm, or anything else.
So far I've popped the tie rod ends in the spindles out with the "big" tie rod remover tool, and even managed to use it to pop the drag link out of the center link even though the gap in the jaws was actually too wide, it barely worked.
It's much too wide for the pitman arm though, there is barely a centimeter of the jaw on either side. It's also too bulky and the drive screw winds up where it's tough to crank down on it and impossible to bang on.
I've tried the "small" tie rod end tool, and it's just too weak. Too bad they don't make it just like the big tool but with the jaws closer together. I've already snapped one of the (very thin) jaws off the Autozone rental tool, and a new one I bought for the purpose with a shorter drive screw (to better clear the radiator hose and steering pump) flexes to the point of almost breaking well before it's even budged the tie rod out at all.
Tapping/banging the top of the drive screw and/or the pitman arm with the tool under tension hasn't "popped" the tie rod out, nor has just leaving the removal tool on under tension for a looong time, or heating the pitman arm, even when it was really cold out, or a combo of all these methods together.
It seems what I really need to do the job right is just a stronger tie rod removal tool that won't flex and then break. The right tool is pretty expensive, and can't be rented:
I guess that would make it too easy. I might rig up something similar with bolts and some steel plate, or just weld something up if I need to.
Either that or one of the other variety of tie rod/ball joint removers:
I don't want to use a fork to seperate them because that will stress the tie rod and probably damage it, making it unuseable. I also don't want to bang on the pitman arm with a BFH and fork and vibrate the steering parts or worse. I don't want to use (much) spray penetrant since I don't want to contaminate the grease in the tie rod, either. The original stock rubber boot has been cut and removed to allow for easier access.
Obviously a lot of people have done this, surely someone has some insight on the easy way to make this happen. I've searched a lot of other forums since the pitman arm / center link is a common setup, but having to push the center link tie rod out from the top, along with the interference from the cooling/steering components seems particular to the Explorer/Ranger here. I haven't found anything on here yet, other than people who were removing it for replacement or for a SAS, so they just used spray lube, a BFH, whatever.
So, any bright ideas or helpful suggestions?
Specifically the stock center link tie rod end that's been in the stock pitman arm for 19+ years, if the idea is to pop it out to change the boot, then put it back.
The tie rod end on the center link is fine, so I don't want to destroy it, nor do I want to damage the power steering pump or pitman arm, or anything else.
So far I've popped the tie rod ends in the spindles out with the "big" tie rod remover tool, and even managed to use it to pop the drag link out of the center link even though the gap in the jaws was actually too wide, it barely worked.
It's much too wide for the pitman arm though, there is barely a centimeter of the jaw on either side. It's also too bulky and the drive screw winds up where it's tough to crank down on it and impossible to bang on.
I've tried the "small" tie rod end tool, and it's just too weak. Too bad they don't make it just like the big tool but with the jaws closer together. I've already snapped one of the (very thin) jaws off the Autozone rental tool, and a new one I bought for the purpose with a shorter drive screw (to better clear the radiator hose and steering pump) flexes to the point of almost breaking well before it's even budged the tie rod out at all.
Tapping/banging the top of the drive screw and/or the pitman arm with the tool under tension hasn't "popped" the tie rod out, nor has just leaving the removal tool on under tension for a looong time, or heating the pitman arm, even when it was really cold out, or a combo of all these methods together.
It seems what I really need to do the job right is just a stronger tie rod removal tool that won't flex and then break. The right tool is pretty expensive, and can't be rented:
I guess that would make it too easy. I might rig up something similar with bolts and some steel plate, or just weld something up if I need to.
Either that or one of the other variety of tie rod/ball joint removers:
I don't want to use a fork to seperate them because that will stress the tie rod and probably damage it, making it unuseable. I also don't want to bang on the pitman arm with a BFH and fork and vibrate the steering parts or worse. I don't want to use (much) spray penetrant since I don't want to contaminate the grease in the tie rod, either. The original stock rubber boot has been cut and removed to allow for easier access.
Obviously a lot of people have done this, surely someone has some insight on the easy way to make this happen. I've searched a lot of other forums since the pitman arm / center link is a common setup, but having to push the center link tie rod out from the top, along with the interference from the cooling/steering components seems particular to the Explorer/Ranger here. I haven't found anything on here yet, other than people who were removing it for replacement or for a SAS, so they just used spray lube, a BFH, whatever.
So, any bright ideas or helpful suggestions?