2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Track bar removal

[big barney]

I tried over over two hours yesterday to remove the P. O. S. track bar. I tried the pickle fork. All I managed to do was bend the hell out of it. I tried using a hammer from the top. The thing just won't budge. The pickle fork I used is a ball joint separator. It has a 15/16 opening. Is this right? What other methods are you guys using? I searched all of the forums and nobody seemed to have any problems removing it. I am trying to install the lukes link.



Any help is appreciated



Thanks

Curt

 

[Straight6Jeff]

I have had sucess wedging the pickel fork in and lightly tapping the boss where the stud goes through.

 

[GJolicoeur]

I had a similar experience - wrenched every muscle hammering on it and broke the pickle fork. I purchased a hardened steel fork made for an air chisel and spent a $100 on a Chicago Pneumatic air chisel/hammer.



I let that go at it for a few minutes, then tapped a couple of times on the end of the fork and POP, out it came.



Was worth every cent of the investment.



Good luck!

 

[krs]

see:



https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=65966



about steering damper, but same methods work.



Pitman arm puller and heat.

 

[big barney]

Thanks for the replys. We are having a bombing day in a couple of weeks. Hopefully they will have some tools that will work. I think I can rent a pittman arm pulling from auto zone.



So much for the 1/2 hour job. I totally destroyed the rubber boot around the link. Is it all right to run it this way for two weeks?





Thanks again for your help.



Curt

 

[GJolicoeur]

Yes, it will survive - but keep it oiled/greased so the rod doesn't rust - in case you reuse it by putting on one of Luke's Links.