We have a Harbor Freight down here, that is pretty good for cheap tools.
Yuo might try Monster pawn for cheaper tools.. You could just buy an
open wrendh for $1 and bend it to fit...
Chris Reck wrote:
> I think I need to get an crowfoot open-ended wrench (with a 1/2" drive
> socket and 30" of extensions to remove it. I can use the socket below
> (provided I can get a smaller one) to remove the existing one, but I can't
> use it on the new one, even though it is the correct size. I'll end up
> destroying the boot in the process.
>
> Now I'm trying to avoid paing $100 for a set of crowfoot wrenches. :-)
>
> Thanks!
>
> Chris Reck
>
> P.S. For what it's worth, I had more trouble getting the truck on jack
> stands and loosening the lug nuts than I had to separate the outer tie rod.
>
>
> ""Rick Barnes"" <rascal@scrtc.com> wrote in message
> news:000001c6c721$762ff360$6500a8c0@highlander...
>
>>I dunno Chris, I have to read up on that one a bit. I just did my hubs
>>and
>>upper and lower ball joints, but you have me thinking about tie rods now
>>too.
>>
>>Rascal
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: owner-dakota-truck@bent.twistedbits.net
>>[mailto:owner-dakota-truck@bent.twistedbits.net] On Behalf Of Chris Reck
>>Sent: Wednesday, August 23, 2006 8:34 PM
>>To: dakota-truck-moderator@bent.twistedbits.net
>>Subject: Re: DML: Question regarding Tie Rods
>>
>>
>>Hmmm... Answering my own thread... :-)
>>
>>I found some more information on the part I'm describing...
>>
>>http://www.autozone.com/in_our_stores/loan_a_tool/steering_suspension/sagina
>>w_tie_rod_tool.htm
>>
>>What I need is something that is smaller "across the flats" than 1-7/16".
>>Anyone got any ideas?
>>
>>Chris Reck
>>
>>""Chris Reck"" <chris92@insightbb.com> wrote in message
>>news:eciv2r$6mg$1@bent.twistedbits.net...
>>
>>>OK, I've started tearing apart the front end. After removing the castle
>>>nut, the outer tie rod came out of the steering knuckle extremely easy
>>>(barely needed a pickle fork). The castle nut was on there pretty solid
>>>though, but I think it was time for it to go anyways. Now...
>>>
>>>How do I get the inner tie rod off the Center Link bar? I rented a Tie
>>>Rod
>>>Tool from AutoZone. it is two parts... one is a long bar (1/2" socket
>>>adapter) that slides over the tie rod shaft after removing the outer tie
>>>rod; and the second is a cutaway piece that fits into the long bar and
>>>has
>>>flat sides to grip the flat sides of the inner tie rod. I had to cut
>>>away
>>>the boot of the inner tie rod to get the cutaway piece to slide over it
>>>(didn't need it anyways). The cutaway piece is too large to fit the
>>>flattened sides. I'm going to call AutoZone tomorrow to see if they have
>>>a
>>>smaller tool.
>>>
>>>Has anyone been able to do this themselves? If I can get the right tools
>>>or
>>>the right approach, this will work great! I'm hoping to leave town next
>>>week Thursday and need to get the tie rods replaced.
>>>
>>>BTW, there is no clearance to get a box wrench up in there... Nor would
>>>there be enough room to get it torqued down properly.
>>>
>>>Thanks!
>>>
>>>Chris Reck
>>>Bloomington, IL
>>>
>>>'99 Dakota Sport + CC 4x4 V6 (Deep Amethyst)
>>>Shaved and polished V8 TB, Autolite 3923, 195 Thermostat, 7.5mm Bosch
>>>plug
>>>wires,
>>>Custom K&N 6x9 air intake, Rancho RSX shocks, Pioneer full audio system,
>>>BF Goodrich 32x11.5r15 T/A KO tires
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>"Barry Oliver" <barrysuperhawk@insightbb.com> wrote in message
>>>news:44E2FD9D.3090309@insightbb.com...
>>>
>>>>Chris Reck wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>Hi,
>>>>>I have a 99 4x4 and was wondering how hard it would be for someone to
>>>>>replace all the tie rod ends on the front. I have a Right front inner
>>>>>tie rod going, and since I'll need to get an alignment, I figured that
>>>>>I
>>>>>would save ~$300 labor and do it myself.
>>>>>
>>>>>I have done shocks, brakes, and the upper ball joints before... but
>>>>>this
>>>>>one is new. Any special tools or problems that I would run into? Any
>>>>>tricks regarding the placement nuts so that the alignment is close to
>>>>>what it was before I would start?
>>>>>
>>>>>Thanks!
>>>>>
>>>>>Chris Reck
>>>>>Bloomington, IL
>>>>>
>>>>>'99 Dakota Sport + CC 4x4 V6 (Deep Amethyst)
>>>>>Shaved and polished V8 TB, Autolite 3923, 195 Thermostat, 7.5mm Bosch
>>>>>plug wires,
>>>>>Custom K&N 6x9 air intake, Rancho RSX shocks, Pioneer full audio
>>>>>system,
>>>>>BF Goodrich 32x11.5r15 T/A KO tires
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Chris, if you would like to come down and make use of the Air tools,
>>>>just
>>>>let me know. I haven't done Tie rods on my '99 4x4, but I have on my
>>>>GF's
>>>>car. With a level and a straight board you can get pretty darn close to
>>>>straight alignment - when I took her car in to align it after I was done
>>>>they said it was 100% perfect - a Miracle if I ever saw one!
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Fri Sep 01 2006 - 10:07:45 EDT