rusted nut

[fordman]

i done a front end swap from 3/4 to 1/2 ton today. i used a front end froma f100 that i had laying around. when i took it off of the truck i put the tie rod nut back on the tie rod. well now it is rusted on and i cant get it to come offf with out the ball stud turning also. i cant get in between the drag link and the drivers side tie rod to stop the ball stud from turning. how would you get this thing off? i thought about wedging a tierod seperater in between them and seeing if that would stop it from turn the whole thing. if that doesnt work what do you think i should do to get it off. with out damamging the nut or ball stud threads?

[FORDification]

Why worry about damaging the nut? Just use a nut-splitter (or even a hack saw) to remove it and then thread another nut on it.

[fordman]

i dont want to search for another nut. i am short one nut already. i tried wedging the fork in there but i couldnt do it under the truck. im going to pull the whole linkage out tomorrow and see if i can break it all aprt so i can put it back on or just put the old linkage back on there. one way or another this truck has to have some way to steer it. i had a heck of a time reloading it onto the dolly with out steering. i had to use a rock bar to turn the tires while it was going up onto the dolly.

[FORDification]

Hmmmm....OK. Well, as long as you're just planning on moving the truck around without actually driving it on the street, just cut the drivers-side nut off. Then once the nut on the passenger side of the truck is tightened up, remove it and install a stack of washers over the stud and install the cotter pin... and then thread the nut onto the drivers side, to cinch up that piece. The piece on the passenger side is going to be wedged in tight enough (and will be aided by the washers and cotter pin) so that it'll stay put temporarily. Just don't forget to actually install a nut before hitting the streets.

[flyboy2610]

i am short one nut already.

Our suspicions are confirmed.

[fordman]

i took a hammer after i took all the linkage off and just hit the nut until the threads gave out. then i spent the rest fo the day working on my computer after ti was trashed with the wrong upgrade. what i meant was i don't have any nuts like that here i would have to go buy some.

[Wes]

For next time, get a big pair of channel locks, or C-clamp, and squeeze the ball stud back into the tapper. This usually stops the stud from turning.

[fordman]

now you tell me. i had kind of thought of that. i tried to hammer the pieces back together but couldnt make them stay seated together. i thought the hammering was a waste of time so i didnt hit it very hard or very much. maybe three or four times with a claw hammer.

[My427stang]

Try jacking upward on the tie rod (dont jack the truck up, just put some pressure on it)

The spreader was going the wrong way pullint the tie rod OUT of the taper. If you put some pressure deeper into the taper it should hold.

[fordman]

sinec eit sits side ways in the drag link that would not have worked. i took it off the truck to work on it. i got it done. and messed up the nut. so i am going to just put the set that came off of it back on instead.