Putting on new steering links, need some simple help

[BigKriss]

Hi guys, after 5 months of having the parts lying around, I'm finally doing my steering links, There are the two tie rods, center tie rod and an idler arm. I cannot get center tie rod off the pitman arm. Argh. I've tried working on this particlular joint for a few hours and i've already put in about 6 hours total. Bruno's site make's it look like it's easy. Im not finding it so. To make matters worse there no much room underneath there to manourve tools around to get to the joint. Its all spanner stuff when I'm tying to take out the joint with the tie rod puller. I cannot get the tie rod puller directly in line to take it out, and the pickle fork and hammer won't budge it. Maybe I'm too weak and I need to wack wack wack some more. Help please guys.


The left side off, the tie rod is still attached to the center tie rod, oh well.


This is what I cannot undo.



Tools of the trade, 4lb hammer, pickle fork, 2 tie rod pullers.

[niall]

Kriss you have to crack that mother****er as hard as you can with the hammer
you can hit it light all day and it wont do jack, it needs one sharp crack,
two handed on your biggest hammer

[632 Regal]

removed and replaced all mine as one unit, took about 30 minutes total. Have to get a good angle for the center links.

[DueyT]

Kriss, find a big-arsed sledge hammer and hit the b*stard for all it's worth from the side...that or do Like I did and heated them up some.

See this thread for some of the fun we had... http://www.bimmer.info/forum/showthread.php?t=6195

And, true to form, I found my pitman arm puller right after I finished the last link! >:-(

Cheers,
Duey

[MBXB]

I popped mine off by using a tie rod puller and cranking down on it, while my buddy heat a heat gun up close. Wear gloves and eye protection.

[liquidtiger720]

tie rod puller got them both off in about 10 minutes for me. Took the tie rods and center rod off and one peice.

[632 Regal]

whats the issue Kris??? you slackin over there?

tie rod puller got them both off in about 10 minutes for me. Took the tie rods and center rod off and one peice.

[liquidtiger720]

Yea, seriously...if I can do it...then pretty much anybody who graduated 4th grade should be able to.

[genphreak]

Working on the floor is always a PITA. Perhaps you need a slimmer puller to get in the space you have. Check out some automtove suppliers-

Perhaps some of these snap-on pullers or snap-on prybars these might help. A good search of the board and web finds US sourced ones for much less, but they might take too long for you to wait with it all in pieces like that.

Good luck- don't get frustrated if you can't get in there to hit it, just use the right tool (I hope there is one...). If however you end up having to hit make sure you setup right and go for it. Best to use head plus brawn, not head+frustration+brawn as that breaks things...

Like me and the beatuiful BMW floor jack- that loves to bend the door when I stupidly open it when the car is on the jack and the mobile goes inside... GP

[632 Regal]

Kris is an exception even though I know he graduated 5th grade....