Tie rod end install

I am trying to put some new tie rod ends on my 04. I have a tool to separate them. (See pic). But is there a tool to press it on? I tried to put pressure from below with my jack. I am afraid if I try to pull it tight by cranking on the castle nut that it will strip, or just as bad, the threaded bolt will start to turn, and there is no way to hold it from turning , should that happen. I had to replace some inners, the piece the outer screws into, One outer looks to be serviceable. Can outer tie rod ends be reused once they are removed? What is a good tool, and a good source?
Thanks

 

You do not have to press a tierod end in! Wiggle the steering if your having a tough time getting it in. It should slide in and then just tighten the castle nut. Then torque it to spec.

 

This sound good, but it won't work. At least not solo. When my wife gets home, I can have her wiggle the steering while I try to get it to go on. I tried to fit the TRE in with out being attached. This was so I could wiggle it around. It never goes in more then 1/4-1/2". Just enough to get the nut started. But its really hard to turn. Thread stripping hard. Either I got the wrong TRE, or this is a part that is going to need to be pressed on. Mine is a 5 lug truck. Would that make my experience different from yours? I don't know.
I have a big breaker bar. I'm sure I can tighten it. My fear is stripping the threads. Thanks for the reply.

 

Yea the tie rod end should just go right on, slide the bolt through and thread the castle nut on. Just like with the lower ball joints once you torque it to spec it's good to go. Might be an issue with the part you got if it won't fit on even when it's not attached to the steering.

 

In these days getting the wrong part happens far to easy!!

Don`t force things !! Tie rods are pretty much all the same I can not see the 5 lug being that different .

Going back to my sixties Muscle cars.

You should only need to pop them off never force them on.

Measure the ID then the OD of the tie rod threads.


the torque is only around 50 ft pounds no reason for a a long breaker bar.

 

yes, they can be reused after they're removed, assuming they aren't damaged during removal. I've always used a Pitman puller to pop off the tie rods and lower ball joints, works well so long as you don't pinch and break the boots. Other tools like using a big hammer to smack them or pickle forks tend to mess them up, I would only use those if you weren't going to reuse them.

 

I had to use the tool in the picture to get them off. I don't know how many foot lbs. I pulled (actually pushed, it is the passenger side) way more then 50lbs. Enough were I will need a pipe extension or my 18" bar. I wish I had heat to put to it. The new one looks the same as the old one. I think the old one would need to be pressed on as well. I looked at this tool I can rent. https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/...056/automotive-truck-2004-toyota-tacoma?pos=1 Not sure that would work.
Trying to return the part to Rock auto is a royal pain. I was ready to do that when I noticed a tear in the rubber. Oh well. I think I'll try one obtained locally and see how that works out.

 

Nothing has gone easy on this whole job.

By chance are your suspension parts the same year as the rest of the truck??

Possible things changed between the years .

Just what did you buy the parts for??

One of the reasons I tend to buy parts local they come pick up returns.

 

You sure you're wrenching on the correct part? That tool pictured can be used with ball joints - not tie rods. At least not that I'm aware of. Reference any of the below videos, might clear up any issues you're running into - note, videos assume your truck is a 6 lug and not a 5 lug tacoma. Attached PDF has torque specs for a 6 lug.

https://youtu.be/AVQHgcXEhpE

https://youtu.be/--HcOQlv03U

https://youtu.be/PYUVNriFc98

 

For whatever it's worth- here are the FSM pages:





While they don't offer much help- they also don't suggest that force is required to install them.

As for the videos above, it's worth noting OP is 5-lug with a different rack and tie rods than the 6 lug videos.


But that doesn't change the the installation procedure much.

 

ahhhh didn't see that in his second post/reply.

 

I would strongly suggest confirming that you have the correct parts.

The Toyota part number for the 5-lug TRE: 45046-39285 Steering Tie Rod End (Left, Right) same for both sides.

Just for reference, the part numbers for the 6 lug are:

$70 45046-39295 Tie Rod End Sub-Assembly

45046-39295 Right, 45047-39175 Left.

 

Hmm yeah there's often confusion between 5 lug and 6 lug parts since 6 lugs are so much more common. Wonder if the OP accidentally got 6 lug OTREs, would explain why they won't line up to get the castle nut on properly

 

For what it's worth, I have a balljoint separator like that one, and it works fine for tie rods too.

 

Add into the mix tie rods packaged wrong!!

 

I paid double the price at O'reilly's. Got the same part. Stripped the threads trying to pull it in. Then the dang thing started turning internally. The bolt is no longer stationary. I thought I would never get the nut off to get it off. But finally I did. I found a video. It is supposed to just slip in, as you guys described. Just between the and me, I think the part it fits into is damaged. The FSM calls it the lower suspension arm. Not being one to give up, I have a better plan. I will take both of these parts off of the donor truck's RF side, and swap them as a pare. I should have done that to start with. The donor truck came from Virginia. The lower parts of that truck are eat up with rust. My thought was to go ahead and replace things with new parts. But if it wants to be stubborn, I have a back up plan. I hope I don't have to swap the entire suspension, finding other bad parts. But at least I have that option. I don't have the knowledge to look at it and tell what is out of wack. This truck was in a wreck in the front, but on the other side. For it to be damaged enough for it to travel to the other side via the steering rack makes me wonder about it and other parts. But I am jumping ahead. I know it will need a visit to the frame straightening machine. Then IF all goes well, a full front end alignment.
I wonder if O'Reilly's will give me a refund?

 

Nice!
My FSM doesn't have that. Thank you for the info!

 

@choopes take some pics and upload them so people can see what you are having an issue with

 

I'd suggest (again) confirming Oreilly's sold you the right part. Their option menu doesn't let you pick 5 lug or 6 lug, so the guy behind the counter gets these results:


I assume because they are male threaded on the 6 lug, and female threaded on the 5 lug parts, that you would notice.

 

You are correct. The one on the right is for my truck. 5 lug. The left and the middle are for the 6 lug.
I just got back from O'Rilley's. They wanted to sell me the steering knunkle, but did not have another tie rod end. That is my backup plan if parts from the donor don't work out. They did give me a refund, but I had to stand there and talk to them awhile.
I'll put some pictures up shortly.