steering

[JApplegate]

before i get started with my question... TOMMARROW IS MY BIRTHDAY Oo. watch out i'm getting rid of this "farmer lisecnse" and get a "restricted" lisecnse... .



now to my question i'm taking tommarrow off from school so i'm doing work on my truck. i'm replacing the engen mounts... piece of cake (i think) from what i've hear no problem. . now the real problem... i'm replacing this steering shaft that connects the right and left tires... hard to describe but it's got 2 bolts that hold it in place and 2 places for something to be bolted to it. now the bolts look more like ball joints then bolts. there is no way to keep them from spining the two nuts are rusted on there and there is not place to get a wrench or pliers on there. i took the cotter pin out but the "bolt" just spins around and around... any suggestions on getting that shaft to stop spining??

p. s. thanks for the email that the website sent me

 

[MMiller]

Do you mean tie rod ends? Are they replaceable on a 2wd, like my 4X4? I would use an impact wrench on them. It you take a pry bar and pry away from the nut it might put enough tension on the "bolt" to hold it stationary. If you are replacing the component, there is always the torch, first you could try heating it, and if that fails cut it off.



Am I on the right page, or way off in left field?



HAPPY BIRTHDAY. So how old do you have to be to get a liscence in NJ? Is it 20 now? Hows it going with the nieghbor girl?



Michael

 

[Philip]

The item is called a drag link. The parts on the ends are called tie rod ends.



You get new nuts with the tie rod ends. Just use a chisel and cut the nuts off. Don't worry about the threads. This is the top side of the tie rod ends you are changing.



The next problem is if that tie rod end was loose and spinning. It could have egg shaped the hole it seats in. The spindle hole is tapered to lock the tie rod in. If this taper is wollowed out. You will need to replace the spindle assy.



On the drag link one side will be left hand threads. The other side is right hand. Make sure to note which side goes to the drivers side. You will need to have the toe in set after you replace the tie rod ends.



IMHO I would recommend you take the truck to a front end shop. They will have the experence to look over the damaged spindle holes and determine if replacement is needed. Steering and brakes is the one place you do not want to cut corners. It could be deadly.

 

["Mad Max"]

Philip hit the nail on the head - the front ends of our 2x4's are, unfortunately, very 'involved'. My alignment shop mentioned that these particular front ends were among the most difficult to align because of the number of components and measurements that need to be made. The 4x4's are real simple, but these 2x4's are kindof a pain, and boy is the stuff heavy and tough. A front end shop will do all the work for you and make sure it's good to go - lots of pieces under there to adjust. Might be worth a call to an alignment shop to see what they charge, and I also think it'd be worth the $.

- Sam

 

[JLEONARD]

My alignment shop mentioned that these particular front ends were among the most difficult to align because of the number of components and measurements that need to be made.

I'll have to ask my son about that... he lined mine up a while back and never mentioned that... . but then again I was emptying trash and sweeping up while he was working so maybe he was enjoying watching me work!! :-laf

Jay

 

[JApplegate]

thanks guys... . michael. . ummm 17 to get the liscence and me and that girl HA i gave up on her... . moved on... and i'm too good for her, she doesn't know what she's missing *smiles*

but my birthday is filled with happiness and sadness. my uncle passed away 9:30 last night



but i picked my head up and changed the motor mounts this morning... . before the sun rose

 

[Philip]

I am sorry to hear about your loss. Our prayers go out to the family.



Philip

 

[MMiller]

What a difficult way to have a birthday. Keep your head up. Along with Philip we send our prayers.



Michael