2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Removing Steering Damper, HELP!

[donhoward]

I'm trying to remove the stud that holds the steering damper to the tie rod. I removed the castle nut but can't get the stud out. Is this stud threaded into the tie rod or is it a taper fit? Any suggestions on how to get it off?

Thanks!

 

[jfluffy2]

you can use a brass hammer and knock it out, or you can use a tie rod fork tool.

 

[donhoward]

No room to swing a hammer, pickle fork might do it.
Any other suggestions anyone?

 

[seafish]

It is a taper fit…Keep soaking it down with Kroil or PB blaster. If there is no room to swing a hammer, perhaps you could use a small bottle jack right underneath the taper stud, then jack the truck up a little (keep the tires on the ground, byut get some tension on the jack) and hit the track bar on the front side, right next to the taper stud…I'll bet it pops.

 

[B.G. Smith]

If you have room, put a heavy hammer on one side of the tie rod where the stud goes through and hit the opposite side with another hammer, usually will pop it out. bg

 

[NGuzik]

X2 on hitting the trackbar where the taper is. Let the PB blast and shock do the work. You don't even need to take large swings with the hammer. Afew firm handed blows should remove it. Don't wast time with any kind of pickle fork.

 

[JMcCoy]

Try some heat.

 

[Hammer]

I ended up removing the center link completely and using a press when I removed mine many moons ago.

 

[donhoward]

Got it free, what a job! Who would have thought changing a steering damper would be so hard, after all it's just a shock.

After applying penetrating oil for two weeks, beating on it with a 3 lb. hammer and applying heat I finally got a Pitman puller and cranked down on it. After cranking on it to what seemed to be close to the breaking point it I heard a loud bang and the puller dropped. I thought I broke the puller but instead the tapered stud had broke free. So now I have the damper with the stud attached out of the truck. Now I need to figure out how to get the stud out of the old damper.

The damper mounting stud appear to have a pressed on large washer covering the end of the rubber bushing so I put it in my Harbor Freight hydraulic press and pushed the stud out. This broke the washer free and got the stud out of the bushing. Looking at the new damper I noticed that the rubber bushing has a steel center tube which is too small for the mounting stud so I pressed this tube out. Next I pressed in the mounting stud completely through the bushing and far enough past to be able to tap the large washer back on. Finally I tack welded the washer back in place and installed the damper.

Thanks to everyone who offered ideas.