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Secret to Ball Joints & Tie Rod Question (long) Posted by Randy Thatcher [Email]  (#22)  [Profile/Gallery]
(more from Randy Thatcher) on Sun, 30 Jun 2002 15:51:16
In Reply to: Re: Tie Rod End / Ball Joint woes. HELP!, RS  [Profile/Gallery]
, Sun, 30 Jun 2002 14:27:13
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I'm in the home stretch now.
I had a 2nd ball joint on the shelf for use on another car, but I said "screw it, I'll do upper and lower while I'm in here."
So I got the top ball joint's nut off (bottom BJ still frozen) and ziptied the hub/balljoint assembly to hold it up. I worked on the bottom some more.
Torch
Cold Water
Hammer
Chisel & Hammer
Curse, spit, growl
Torch
Cold Water
Torch
Cold Water
Hammer
Chisel & Hammer
SNAP!!!
Then the zip tie breaks and everything falls to the ground, but the steering / tie rod end is still there. I stacked up scrap wood to take tension off the steering and decided to go to work.
Here is the key. A few good whacks on the sleeve into which the ball joint goes broke it free. Then I had to hack saw the thing because the nut was frozen. Same whacking the side (hub) not the ball joint itself freed the top one in seconds. Live and learn.
Next problem - The nut on the tie rod end won't budge either way. So I use a hack saw and cut it off JUST at the nut (which is halfway off). There are still threads left...
I put the whole thing back together, clean the ABS sensor (thanks Kevin!), put the brakes back on and then I have to do something with the tie rod end... I set it in and there's a good 1/2" + of threads. Enough to drive 1 mile or so to a service guy if I bolt it in. Or I order a tie rod end and DIY, then get an alignment. I have to decide if time or money are more important with respect having a running/aligned convertible for the holiday weekend.
My questions:
1. Considering I dropped the 20+ pound assembly with the steering gear still attached, what are the chances my steering rack was damged?
2. What kind of nut should I use on the tie rod end? I used a 19MM ball joint nut, but the threads are wrong. again, it's snug enough (probably) to get to me a dealer, but I hate risking it.
3. What kind of moron does ball joints on a humid 92 degree day?
Randy
posted by 66.32.46...
, Sun, 30 Jun 2002 12:55:28, Sun, 30 Jun 2002 14:27:13, Sun, 30 Jun 2002 15:51:16 <-- Viewing This Message
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