Good advice Paul,Let me add: Start soaking all the bolts with PB-Blaster/liquid wrench/your choice of oil NOW. It'll make things easier when the time comes. Front end parts can be hell to loosen. I never saw any problems with a pickle fork if you aren't going to re-use the tie rod end. If you want to use them again it's a no-no. Obviously, it's alway preferable to avoid banging on any part of your car with a hammer. If you count the turns (on the end of the tie rod you don't hit with the pickle fork) you get it close enough to drive to the alignment shop. You can try to double check it with the level and string methods of home alignment, but don't wait too long. Any money you save will go to pay for unevenly worn tires.
Rob
From: randalpark@xxxxxxx Reply-To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: Re: IML: Tie-Rod Ends Date: Thu, 28 Sep 2006 08:52:48 -0400There are special tools used to remove the tie rod ends. The cheap and old fashion way is a pickle fork which wedges in between the two parts to separate the tie rod end from the control arm. This involves banging with a hammer and is not prefered. There is also a little "press" type tool that acts somewhat like a hub puller, or a battery cable puller, which will gently push out the tie rod end by applying pressure to a threaded stud with a wrench. Installing is easy, but you need to count the number of turns to "unscrew" the threaded end of the old tie rod to approximate its position so that the new one is close. Yes, you do need to have the alignment redone after the procedure. My front end shop changes the tie rod ends for me (I supply them) for little expense, and does the alignment.Paul W. -----Original Message----- From: dansgarage@xxxxxxxxxxxx To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Cc: dickb@xxxxxxxxx Sent: Wed, 27 Sep 2006 10:21 PM Subject: RE: IML: Tie-Rod EndsHi Dick...since you have probably done this yourself many times, I thought I would ask you how big a job it is to change the Tie-Rod End (Inner and Outers) on my '66 LeBaron or convertible? I beieve that the car needs to be allignedafterwards but is it really abig project?...do I need special tools? Dan Melnik ----------------- http://www.imperialclub.com ----------------- This message was sent to you by the Imperial Mailing List. Please reply to mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and your response will be shared with everyone. Private messages (and attachments) for the Administrators should be sent to webmaster@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx To UN-SUBSCRIBE, go to http://imperialclub.com/unsubscribe.htm ________________________________________________________________________Check out the new AOL. Most comprehensive set of free safety and security tools, free access to millions of high-quality videos from across the web, free AOL Mail and more.
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