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Back in 2010, I'd always use a pry bar to get a stubborn tie rod end loose. Now I just use a $40 pickle fork from the parts store and it's done in 30 seconds.
I used to fight with them for 15 minutes, hitting the knuckle with a hammer and trying to shock it free. It was messy, loud, and sometimes you'd damage the threads. A guy at a shop in Tacoma showed me the pickle fork trick a few years back. You just wedge it in the split and give it a solid whack. It pops right out, no fuss. What's your go-to method for separating tie rods now?
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shane_park926mo ago
A guy in Tacoma just showed you a few years back? That method is older than my first car. I'm surprised you hadn't seen a pickle fork before 2010.
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leehall5mo ago
Yeah, the "older than my first car" line got me. I mean, some of these old school fixes just stick around because they work. I get why @aaronsullivan's buddy went straight for the hammer, sometimes you just need that shock to break things loose. I'd be way too nervous to use a torch near all that stuff like Diana mentioned, even if it does work. It's funny how the simplest tool is sometimes the answer.
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aaronsullivan6mo ago
Yeah, I get that it's an old trick. In my case, I just never had to deal with a stuck ball joint until my old truck. A buddy ended up using a big hammer on the steering knuckle right next to it, and it popped free after a few solid hits. Sometimes the simple way works when the pickle fork won't budge it.
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diana_jenkins656mo ago
Read an article once where a mechanic swore by heating the joint with a torch first, then hitting it. Said the metal expands and breaks the rust's grip. Always seemed a bit risky to me with all the grease and rubber right there. Your buddy's hammer method sounds a lot safer for a home garage. Ever try putting some penetrating oil on it for a few days before you start whacking?
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