Problem Removing Center Link!
 

I was replacing the steering components on my 85 300TD... tie rods, idler arm bushings, center link. Tie rods popped off easily with a pickle fork. The center link is another story.... Fork, BFH, PBblaster, heat, you name it- I tried it.... for hours. Eventually I took a hacksaw to the damn thing and amputated it where it connects to the pitman arm. OOPS! I thought I'd be able to tap it through from the bottom... but of course it's too wide and only meant to slide downwards from the pittman. Now i have this bolt stuck in the Pittman arm and, as you know, have no clearance from above. What to do? EASY-OUT? Remove the Pittman arm? Please, I appreciate all suggestions.

I think you may have to pull the pitman arm now to get that out of it. Make sure the orientation of the splines is well marked for putting it back on. You may need a pitman arm puller to do this. Heavy hammering on the steering box arm is not such a hot ideal in my opinion.

If I am wrong someone out there correct me.

Can you use a pulley puller to push out the remaining pin?

http://www.greatnecksaw.com/images/p...dium/25190.jpg

In the future, try a tool like this instead of a pickle fork -

http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/atta...od_remover.jpg

The advantage is you can put pressure on the tight joint then smack the the joint in the transverse direction to pop out the pin.

Sixto
87 300D

Forgot to mention good ol' heat. Fire up the BernzOmatic!

Sixto
87 300D

I just bought an easy-out drill. Fingers crossed....

X2!!!

My klann tie rod popper is a lifesaver.
bought it here on the forum. worth every penny. INSTANLY pops any tie rod.

THIS is the one I bought here. first one on the list.
it's got a ball bearing in the end of the bolt, and the pivot is adjustable for large or small pins!

Yikes! $200! It looks like that will get the job done though... I'm gonna call Phil. Thanks...

You can probably rent a version of that at your local auto parts store.

For less than half that price, you can buy an entire OTC front end service kit from Amazon. Or get a similar tool from NAPA.

NAPA AUTO PARTS

or

Ball Joint Tie Rod End Separator Remover BMW,Mercedes. | eBay

... WOW!
I paid around $60 for mine...
I'm guessing that's a list price or something. Phil can do better I'm sure.
the one on ebay is likely either a cheaper metal or weak in some way, but it appears identical to mine. aside from the manufacturers name of course...

UPDATE: I bought NAPA's version of this ball joint separator tool for $28. The stuck center link bolt popped right out with a little elbow grease. Thanks, guys!
:D

I'm glad to hear you got the problem fixed.

I hope you didn't damage the Pitman arm with your first attempts - this is a mission critical component!

my NAPA tool could not pop my tie rod from the idler arm, got the car on a lift, the mechanic had to use two huge hammers to pop the pin.

$80 at harbor freight + 20% off coupon = $64... done!