REMOVING BALL JOINTS -THE EASY WAY.

Next time you have to pop that stubborn tapered tie rod end out of the steering arm, try this and stop bashing those threads to death.  

Loosen the nut on the tapered shaft a couple turns.  Put a jack under the end of the bolt / nut, and jack till the tire just barely comes off the ground so the weight is on the tapered end, trying to push it out.  Don't remove the tire!  Now, take that trusty hammer and hit the SIDE of the steering arm where the tie rod end goes through.   In about 5 whacks or less it should "pop!" out.  Never destroy another tie rod end again!

What if the threaded end points up, instead of down so you can't get a jack under it?  This trick works so well that with a bit of leverage from that high-lift jack handle, you can pop it out that way too.  It's worked like a charm on the original tie rod ends in a 25 year old truck that spend most of it's life in the salt of Vermont and upstate New York!

How come it works?  Instead of bashing the threaded end to death, you're putting a bit of pressure on the end, and the hammer sets up a vibration in the metal it just come loose! The "good vibes" and the weight of the vehicle does the hard work for you!  

John Lewis