How do I remove the tierod from the struthousing?

[KenC]

I've pounded on the damn thing with a 35lb sledgehammer and it still doesn't even budge...

[rs4pro3]

Tap Side ways also on the tie rod, and the strut housing. It helps sometime to to jack up the strut housing a tad to get the tie rod straighter and not at such a down ward angle.

[KenC]

Tap Side ways also on the tie rod, and the strut housing. It helps sometime to to jack up the strut housing a tad to get the tie rod straighter and not at such a down ward angle.

I've tried all of that. I've been beating the shit out of it for 30 minutes now....

[KenC]

Any idea what size nut that is on top of it? I know it's a 17mm... but what about the threads and shit. I need to go down to Depot and get some spares so I can beat them.

[Bill 84 318i]

You don't want to beat on the stud or on a nut too bad. I've fucked up the threads beyond repair and had to get a new tie rod end before.

My most recent way of doing it is to work a two arm 4" gear puller on there.

Other than that, it just takes patience.

[KenC]

Any idea what size nut that is on top of it? I know it's a 17mm... but what about the threads and shit. I need to go down to Depot and get some spares so I can beat them.

I found "M10X1" in the ETK... is that a nut size?

[e9nine]

If you have a new one....Get a torch while you're at Home depot. Heating em up is where it's at :twisted:

[Rigmaster]

Re: How the &$ do I remove the tierod from the struthous

I've pounded on the damn thing with a 35lb sledgehammer and it still doesn't even budge...

Try tapping on the SIDE of the casting where the tierod shaft goes thru the hole in the strut housing- this works great about 90% of the time. If not, you need a picklefork "tierod" splitter, you can buy a cheap one (less than $10) or you can borrow one from Autozone or some other chain auto parts places. Stick the pointy end of the picklefork in between the tierod and the strut housing, and whack the hell out of the end of the picklefork handle with a big hammer- it will take them apart, though you will trash the rubber boot on the tierod end.


BTW, how about NOT putting such nice words (f-bombs) in the subject header of your post?? I don't really mind, but it's not really that cool- especially for a mod to do this kind of crap.

Bret.

[Spaz]

dude, bfh, its the only way.

[KenC]

A picklefork will probably tear the rubber boot on the ball joint. I went to home depot and bought their last M10X1 nut. I put it on the bolt and whacked the hell out of it with the hammer and it dropped out...

... now I have to go back and get an extra one for the control arm.

[///M Powered]

A picklefork will probably tear the rubber boot on the ball joint. I went to home depot and bought their last M10X1 nut. I put it on the bolt and whacked the hell out of it with the hammer and it dropped out...

... now I have to go back and get an extra one for the control arm.

control arm is going to be lots of fun

just a heads up ;)

[JesseDuncan]

I work at a shop and have done a few of these on e30's, most of them from northern states where shit gets all rusted. A pickelfork with some solid blows has always got it off, if youre careful the rubber boot wont be destroyed.

[KenC]

I got them all off now, thanks guys.

[EverWiser]

If you do destroy the rubber boots, they have polyurethane replacement boots in the "HELP" section at your local AutoZone or Advance Auto store. They work well in a pinch and add a little color (not that you'll normally see it!).