Garage Shop: Tools

Fuck pickle forks. There I said it.

Pitman puller all the way for ball joints and tie rods.



Pickle forks just love destroying boots.

 

I use a puller,

$141 OTC6295 OTC 6295 Front End Service Set for Pitman Arms, Ball Joints, and Tie Rods

OTC6295 is a great kit to have around. The forks work great if you plan to replace the tie rod, because as mentioned the boot usually gets destroyed.

 

Not replacing the tie rods. This is just to get the axle out and do the ecgs bushing. I do have new tie rod ends if something catastrophic were to happen though

 

Gotcha. A swift smack of the sledge into the steering knuckle is also usually enough to dislodge if you don’t have a puller.

 

i just use a hammer and beat the shit out the spindle till the tie rod pops out

 

This works best. a mini sledge is a must have for this kinda work.Don’t duck around with a ballpeen. If you think oh that’s too big. That’s the one.

 

do you intend to reuse the rod end And boot ? ( if there was more to this I missed it)

I haven’t used a “pickle fork” in years, a good hit on the end of the receiving side of the spindle or other and it momentarily distorts the wedge and releases the stud. I’ve had more issues with the forks pulling the ball cup off the ball leaving it stuck in the hole.
Hitting the casting will also allow you to reuse the joint if desired and not damage the boot.

 

Came across this on Reddit and it looks wildly useful.

https://tite-reach.com/pages/shop-tite-reach-wrenches

 

Or you could use a wrench!

 

OK Shrek

 

And risk a skint knuckle, I don't think so

 

Blasphemy

 

Psh, wrenches are for poor people.

 

I have one of these to get to hard to reach places. It can even get to those bedside bolts behind the cab. Long and thin.

 

Pass the broken 12mm made in Taiwan, please

 

I lold. Then cried.

 

I resemble that remark..lol. I'd cut that bolt outta there before I went with the super dupper reverser upsidedown thingy.
Zim

 

Let me introduce you to my little friend. This gentlemen, is a whale bone, and it eats shit for a living.
Zim

 

I like that. The present tense of skunt.

 

Hold up, gotta tie another zip tie around it first.