Tie rods - impossible to get out !

1941 - 1945, MB, GPW Technical questions and discussions, regarding anything related to the WWII jeep.
Post Reply
User avatar
David V
G-Colonel
G-Colonel
Posts: 1735
Joined: Wed Aug 25, 2004 12:10 pm
Location: British guy living in France. Fontenay-sous-Bois, just east of Paris.

Tie rods - impossible to get out !

Post by David V » Mon May 21, 2018 12:53 pm

I have to take my steering tie rods and Pitman arm off to finally put my winch on. To put the upside-down Pitman arm on.
The tie rod ends are solidly stuck in the arm. I managed to get the passenger side one off using a bearing puller that pulled it up from the arm but the other one is solid. I have tried, WD40, heat and a little brutality but don't want to screw the threads up on it. The bearing puller actually snapped it's threads so it's out of action.
Anyone got a tip or is there a tool that I could use or buy that would get the job done ?

I've now seen that there exists a tie-rod remover tool. Anyone know a good one ? Are there different sizes ?

David
44 MB 356111 "Charlotte" since 21/02/06 - Capstan winch
42WLA 70443 "Lily" since 16/1/10


User avatar
artificer
banned
Posts: 13558
Joined: Tue Jul 11, 2006 10:46 am
Location: SINGAPORE

Re: Tie rods - impossible to get out !

Post by artificer » Mon May 21, 2018 2:31 pm

Remove the split pin & loosen the tie rod nut about 4 full turns.
Get 2 good solid hammers as heavy as you can handle or will fit, each squarely on either side of the steering arm.
Hold 1 tight [sometimes a friend may be helpful] & whack hard with the other.
1 or 2 good whacks, girly boy hits are not allowed, & the tie rod/s will have popped & be loose.
By using this method what you are doing is temporarily distorting the steering arm taper the tie rod has been pulled & locked tight, into.
Never ever hit on the tie rod threads or nuts.
Most of these tools are next to useless, some even damaging parts.
John GIBBINS Member Institute of Automotive Mechanical Engineers [Ret], ASE Master Medium/Heavy Truck & Auto Technician USA -2002 Licensed Motor Mech NSW MVIC 49593 Current 2015
TO DIAGNOSE, TROUBLESHOOT OR FAULT FIND ANY AUTO SYSTEM....
Understand how system parts interact with one another. GOOD parts can then be established & the NOT GOOD problem/s part/s isolated for repair or replacement.

Marty, SoCal
G-Lieutenant General
G-Lieutenant General
Posts: 6319
Joined: Thu Mar 09, 2006 10:34 am
Location:

Re: Tie rods - impossible to get out !

Post by Marty, SoCal » Mon May 21, 2018 2:46 pm

(Artificer beat me to it!)

Two equally heavy hammers, on held to one side of the pitman arm next to the tie rod end stud, and whack the other side of the pitman arm with the other, (if you don't have equal weight hammers, the heavier one is the stationary one). Basically, you are trying to pinch the pitman arm 180 degrees on each side of the tie rod end, the shock of the hit will separate it without damaging the boot, tie rod or pitman arm (or knuckle)

Kinda like this, but I put another hammer on the other side of the pitman arm to help the shock effect:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtVE-Rtiuc4

The tie rod separator works well, (most times). Sometimes you can get a loaner one from a parts store like o'reillys:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jotYlVj09xM

Often it still won't pop with one of these so a little whack on the pitman or knuckle will pop it loose while under tension.
43 Ford GPW 92098
53 Dunbar Kapple M100
Sold: 61 CJ-5, 41 T207 WC-1 Dodge closed cab pickup
MVPA #8266
USMC Tanker (1811, 1812), 85-93
ASE Automotive Master tech, former Chrysler-Jeep Level 4 Mastertech, CA state EA smog license

User avatar
dpcd67
G-General
G-General
Posts: 11808
Joined: Mon Jul 25, 2011 3:41 pm
Location: Iowa

Re: Tie rods - impossible to get out !

Post by dpcd67 » Mon May 21, 2018 2:57 pm

I use a big rectangular chunk of steel that weighs about ten pounds that I hold on the opposite side of where I whack the side with a ball pein hammer. Acts as a portable anvil, sort of, and builds up your left bicep.
As stated, pullers don't work unless the end is already loose. ish.
U. S. Army 28 years.
Armor Branch

Joe Gopan
Jeep Heaven
Posts: 49841
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2008 12:37 pm
Location: Proving Ground

Re: Tie rods - impossible to get out !

Post by Joe Gopan » Mon May 21, 2018 3:28 pm

I use two 2# Machinists hammers, usually get it on first whack. Some use what is called a "pickle fork" but I would not reuse any tie rod end after a pickle fork was used.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO

Bart1015
G-Major
G-Major
Posts: 913
Joined: Wed Apr 16, 2014 6:20 pm
Location:
Contact:

Re: Tie rods - impossible to get out !

Post by Bart1015 » Mon May 21, 2018 3:47 pm

Unscrew the bolt until level, or just above level of the top of the threaded shaft. Use an air chisel with a blunt point on the top of the threaded shaft. If careful they will break loose.

Brett
1942 VEP GPW, J-2 winch, BC-659, 1919a4
1945 GPW, 1943 MBT
Sold - 1967 M151a1, 1943 MB, M416
www.ToThePointPolygraph.com

User avatar
JAB
G-General
G-General
Posts: 9586
Joined: Fri Dec 13, 2002 5:25 pm
Location: under the jeep in North Prairie, WI

Re: Tie rods - impossible to get out !

Post by JAB » Mon May 21, 2018 4:30 pm

Bart1015 wrote:
Mon May 21, 2018 3:47 pm
Unscrew the bolt until level, or just above level of the top of the threaded shaft. Use an air chisel with a blunt point on the top of the threaded shaft. If careful they will break loose.

Brett
You beat me to it. I find this easier than the twin hammer method (which does work though). The only thing I'd add is that I like to put a hydraulic jack under the arm, as close to the tie rod as possible, as a support. Jack it up just enough to support it, no more.
-Jeff

GR8GPN2U!!!

Image

Image

Bart1015
G-Major
G-Major
Posts: 913
Joined: Wed Apr 16, 2014 6:20 pm
Location:
Contact:

Re: Tie rods - impossible to get out !

Post by Bart1015 » Mon May 21, 2018 7:05 pm

Jab,

Your absolutely right. I forgot to add that.
1942 VEP GPW, J-2 winch, BC-659, 1919a4
1945 GPW, 1943 MBT
Sold - 1967 M151a1, 1943 MB, M416
www.ToThePointPolygraph.com

User avatar
David V
G-Colonel
G-Colonel
Posts: 1735
Joined: Wed Aug 25, 2004 12:10 pm
Location: British guy living in France. Fontenay-sous-Bois, just east of Paris.

Re: Tie rods - impossible to get out !

Post by David V » Mon May 21, 2018 10:41 pm

OK I got it. You hit the steering arm and not the tie-rods. I didn't think of that.
Will try later !

Good videos.
44 MB 356111 "Charlotte" since 21/02/06 - Capstan winch
42WLA 70443 "Lily" since 16/1/10

User avatar
JAB
G-General
G-General
Posts: 9586
Joined: Fri Dec 13, 2002 5:25 pm
Location: under the jeep in North Prairie, WI

Re: Tie rods - impossible to get out !

Post by JAB » Tue May 22, 2018 6:31 am

David V wrote:
Mon May 21, 2018 10:41 pm
OK I got it. You hit the steering arm and not the tie-rods. I didn't think of that.
Will try later !

Good videos.
This is the twin hammer method, not the blunt-point air chisel method. Don't hit the steering arm with the air chisel.
-Jeff

GR8GPN2U!!!

Image

Image

Joe Gopan
Jeep Heaven
Posts: 49841
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2008 12:37 pm
Location: Proving Ground

Re: Tie rods - impossible to get out !

Post by Joe Gopan » Tue May 22, 2018 7:13 am

One hammer is used as a back up and held tightly against one side of the arm where the tie rod end tapered pin goes thru, then use an identical hammer to give the exact opposite side of the arm a sharp blow (don't be bashful), it sets up a resonance that pops the tie rod end from the arm. Loosen the castellated nut about 1/8" first.
And if the hammers are not the same weight, use the heaviest as the back up and the lightest to strike with.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO


Post Reply

Return to “MB GPW Technical Knowledge Base”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Corsairone, Google [Bot], Google Adsense [Bot], RICHARD J, sam C. and 68 guests