Hi,

I posted here a month ago about an outer tie rod end which didn't want to come off. I eventually took the car to my local mechanic. Here's what happenned: car goes up on lift, so there is room to move, lean into it, plant feet, etc. He used a deadblow hammer to get the stud out after the castle nut was off. Hit it twice, and it popped right out. He sprayed the threads on the rod end with pb blaster. He then used a huge 2.5 foot long wrench with an enclosed-circle end to hook around the stud on the end of the tie rod assembly, which is now hanging straight down, still attached by the inner tie rod. He then leaned into it, as though he were walking through a turnstyle, and slowly turned the tie rod end out of the adjusting sleeve with a loud squeaking sound. After a few minutes of this, he switched to a pipe wrench, until the end was out. He had measured the distance from the sleeve to the grease nipple, and used that measurement to put the new rod end in, to minimize the change to the toe in alignment. Total labor charge : $20 cash. ( I brought in the new tie rod).

Moral of the story : the right tools make all the difference ( deadblow hammer, huge wrench, huge pipewrench, and a lift so you have room to work ! )

The right tools can make all of the difference. The lift especially! I would love to be able to put in a lift someday.... Maybe once I get a new house with a bigger garage.....

A lift is the major part of the american dream garage. Also the complete snap-on tool set. But its great he only charged you $20 for that.