What is the name of the tool used to seperate tie rod ends with out tearing the rubber boot? Not the pickle fork style, but the kind that slides over, and you rotate a bolt that acts as a lever and seperates the end?
I cannot find one at Sears, Orilley or Advance.

Go to an Autozone and they will lend you one for free. The way the program works: Pay Autozone for the tool and when you bring it back after use they refund your money immediately. I think they call it a front end service kit for a selection of various types in one kit or just a ball joint separator for the individual component. Smacking the control arm works well but if I am using the ball joint or tie rod end over again I like the damage free option of the separator.


Dan

I just loosen the nut to cover the threads and then whack on the nut with a hammer. The friction fit knocks loose pretty easily. The challenge can be retightening the nut because the ball in the joint spins. I usually have to use a bottle jack to apply a load to the joint.

This one works like it was made for it.

Harbor Freight Tie-Rod and Pittman Arm Puller $5.99
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Art Benstein near Baltimore

Tie Rod Extractor.

Bought mine a JC Whitney (aka Jacque Whipme)
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www.fidalgo.net/~brook4

I've never used one to remove tie rod ends. I just back off the nut about a 1/4" and use two big hammers. Hold one hammer against one side of the spindle and bang the other side of the spindle with the other hammer. The shock will pop the tie rod out of the spindle. This has always worked for me, and doesn't damage the tie rod end.

I don't know the name of it but they had one on the shelf at Autozone about a year ago. You'll probably find one if you just keep looking.

Bob
82 intercooled turbowagon

I used a small two-prong puller from sears.

-Bruce