Trying to change out my stock drag link today. When I go to remove the nut off the steering knuckle tie rod end the nut and bolt just spin together. No way I can remove this with a wrench. What now?

 

Trying to visualize exactly what you're talking about, but if it's what I'm thinking, is there room to jam a pickle fork under the nut to kind of pinch/hold the stud and keep it from spinning? Or conversely is there any thread coming out past the top of the nut that you could grab and hold onto with some vice grips or something? That might allow you to unscrew the nut a little further and create more room under it to get that pickle fork in there. Another option that might work is to use a large set (16") channel locks to pinch the stud and top of the TRE, which may get the stud to grab and hold while you loosen the nut. Or maybe you could try a nut splitter to break the nut off. Ignore me if I'm way off base and the ideas I'm offering are of no help to your situation. I might not be visualizing what you're talking about very well.

 

No room for a fork.

I was thinking of trying the vice grip idea. Seems to be the only option right now.

 

See my edited post above. I added some more ideas...

- large pair of channel locks to pinch the stud and top of TRE together. Might get stud to grip while you loosen the nut if you can get a good enough squeeze on there.

- nut splitter to break the nut off the stud.

- grinder with thin disc to cut a notch into stud that you could then hold with a flat-head screwdriver.

Just some more thoughts. Not sure if any of these will work.

 

Cant you use an allen key in the stud of the stock rod ends? Its been a while since I've done it, but I vaguely remember using an allen to keep the stud from spinning.

 

There IS an Allen nut there. I saw it once I got the tire off and had a better working view/angle for this project. And of course, this stripped out almost immediately.

Grrrrrrrr.

 

Got it. When all else fails, get a cut off wheel.

 

You could have put upward pressure on the bottom of the joint itself in which case would prevent the ball pin from spinning with the nut. You can do this with either a pry bar or a jack depending on how much room you have to work with. This works every time for us.

 

I tried that. A neighbor came over to help and we tried large C clamps, pry bar, and a bottle jack. Nothing worked. Thus, out came the cut off wheel.

I am guessing my TRE on the steering knuckle must have been really fried. On goes the new Synergy drag link tomorrow.