I can't get these off for the life of me. Are these reverse threaded. I have tried both ways and can't budge them. I am guessing I might need a crows foot to get these off. Any suggestions? Already sprayed them good with PB blaster.

 

If I recall correctly outside tie rod ends are normal thread, and insides are reverse.

I always look at the thread on the rod first, to confirm I'm going the right way. On some vehicles the tie rod and ends can be put in backwards by a previous person.

Be sure to use two wrenches, so as not to force the joint hard over on its stud, which can cause damage.

 

I got the outside one which is normal thread so the inner must be reverse. I did not put a wrench on the tie rod so I'll try that in the morning.

 

Yeah, with a wrench on the nut and a wrench on the body of the tie rod end, you will get better leverage.

 

I agree to take a good look at the thread to make sure you are turning it the correct way. I know that these can be very very tight. And sometimes there isn't much room to get any power on the wrenches.

 

Sometimes its easier to take the rod off the bike to break free teh inner lock nut. Once its free reinstall the bar to make your adjustments. I coat the threads in antiseize compound. Actually I coat every bolt (that does not require thread locker) in antiseize...makes it much easier to take apart later.

 

I thought about doing that. How does the tie rod come off on the inner side? Does it just pop off the ball joint? The outer looks easy. Remove cotter pin, bolt, and push up.

 

On my quads, both ends come off the same way. Pull the pin, take the nut off, but you don't want to just hammer it out at that point or you may break something. A fork type separator is best but sometimes a prybar will work. Oh, and do them one at a time so you can measure one to get right length.

 

Okay, I ran to harbor freight and picked up a crowfoot wrench set. Just got them loose in under a minute. Now I can finish my alignment. Thanks guys.

 

If you did reef on them with just one wrench, chances are pretty good you may have damaged one or both joints by forcing them into the end of their travel on the stud harder than they were designed for...

It might not be a bad idea, while you are messing with it, to install new tie rod ends.

They aren't that expensive, and if the machine is a few years old, while you are in there...