I finally started on my CA's and TRE today, and I am having a hell of a time with the TRE. Got the pinch bolt out with not too much of an issue, loosened the jam nut, popped the thing out of the steering knuckle, but I can't unscrew the damn thing to get it out... For real? Any advice on this little minor detail? Thanks guys, I know I can count on you...

 

Torch that ****** till shes red hot. But make sure there no penetrant on it cuz fire will occur lol.

 

You are using two wrenches right? One on the inner tied rod and one on that bolt? Or is that done and you just cant unscrew it?

 

worst case scenario, I've been cutting everything off with my dremel. If you have a rotary tool, cut a line down the tie rod end on one side (without coming too close to the threading); and then another line on the other side, stick a chisel or a punch in the line and then whack it (aiming into tie rod end's wall, and away from the tie rod threading)... probably not the most elegant solution, but I think it might work...

 

- Already soaked in PB Blaster!

- Yes, two wrenches, but not enough elbow grease I guess...

- Huh? Maybe it's a little too early this morning, but I can't quite picture in my head what you're trying to say...


Thanks for the responses guys. Of course today it has to be raining (the car is in the garage, but near the door), but I'll give it another try a little later. Maybe after soaking overnight in PB Blaster, it might budge a little today. It worked on the upper CA pinch bolt. That sucker slid right out no problem!

 

Lucky you for the CA pinch bolt, dont get me started on that ******. If it's any consolation when I was doing my TREs I took a chunk out of my finger while doing the left side and the right side lol. I was forcing so hard with my two wrenches that well when they broke loose my hand went straight into the fender or something lol, both sides -_-

 

Let me put myself out there real quick and sound like a dumbass, but here's what I've been trying to do... I have a wrench on the nut by the end of the boot that I assume the TRE is threaded into, the jam nut has been backed off a thread or two, and I'm using an adjustable wrench on the flat spot of the TRE itself. Now, the TRE "flexes" about a quarter of a turn before it stops, which makes me wonder if I'm doing something wrong. Is there a better way of doing it? My Chilton's manual simply says unscrew it. I'm going to check Audidiy.com real quick, maybe I missed something...

Edit: AudiDIY simply says unscrew it... muthaf*cka!

 

Look at your new TRE to get a better idea of what to do. It sounds like your doing it right, but its also kind of hard to understand thru text.

 

sorry, let me try again. Slice it lengthwise along the 'equator' using a rotary, but not all the way through to the TR threading. Then on the opposite side, 180 degrees, slice it lengthwise again. (sorry, maybe this sounds stupid but, if the TRE is like an airplane then I'm sugguesting that you make a horizontal cut all the way along the windows, on both sides). Then take a punch or a chisel, stick it in the groove you just cut, and then whack it with a mallet. But don't whack it straight into the groove (like perpendicularly), instead whack the groove on a tangent angle so you won't damage the threading if the TRE splits in half. I'm thinking the TRE will split enought that you could wriggle it off. Man, tell me if I sound really stupid...

 

My new TRE comes with the threaded part, so even if I break the metal part off of the threaded part, I would still need to get the threaded part out. I think I'm just scared I'm going to break something, but I'm sure I have it right, so I need to just quit being a wimp about it...

Back to the garage for round 2! I'll let you know who wins!