What is the recommended method of separating the track rod end from the stub axle on steering box cars (eg a 1969 4/4)?
thanks
Officially there is a tool often used in garages, eBay 20mm - 40mm BALL JOINT SPLITTER SCISSOR SEPERATOR SEPARATOR TIE ROD ENDS for examples for a few pounds. This is a safe and well used tool however most mechanics use the following method (too lazy to go fetch the tool). Undo the nylock nut or castleated nut, leave it half way on the thread to protect the thread end. With a medium sized hammer give the arm, NOT THE TRACK ROD END, a sharp rap with the hammer. The point to note it's not so much how hard you hit it more the sharpness of the rap to break the taper, hitting it hard will not shock break the taper, catching it right will. Purists will tell you to use a ball joint seperator and they are correct but have a look on the end of the steering arm ends fo a flat area to see what's been done in the past, my money is on a hammer blow. I have the tool in my toolbox but admit to using the hammer method almost exclusively.
