Well I bought the OME steering stabilizer and started to install tonight (was following the write-up here), and I can't for the life of me get the stud on the driver's side through the hole. With some trouble I got the 17mm nut off of the back of this stud, but even with a pickle fork can't seem to get it through the hole. I even broke off the stock stabilizer by accident from this mount trying to get it off.

The only thing I can think of is that I'm not using the pickle fork correctly. What I have been doing up until this point where I've stopped for the night is sticking the fork in front between that seal that explodes when you start messing around with that mount and the bar that has the hole in it. Am I supposed to be pushing from the back where the stud is or pickle-forking it back and forth in the front?

In short I guess I just need someone to go over that step with me in detail because I'm completely at a loss here....

Thanks so much in advance!

 

I had the same problem. I ended up using a sawzall to cut the stock stabilizer off at that bolt and ended up torching the stud out. No fun.

 

Well, at least I got the shock already off, however our methods were a bit different--I accidentally PULLED it off lol...

Man, I hope I don't have to torch that out--I would REALLY have no idea what I was doing then...

 

Presoak with PB Blaster...that is the key.

:bounce2:

 

Excellent...I'll give that a shot...thanks!

BTW- I am supposed to be trying to get the stud to come out the front by pulling from the front right? I'm not supposed to be pushing from the rear (the actual stud itself)...?

 

I ended up Cutting mine off with a sawsall aswell. I tried everything first. An Air Chisel (sp ?) Is supposed to work well but I didn't have one.

After I cut the Shock off I was able to Whack the stud out.

 

I had a bear of a time getting mine out too, but the trick i've found is to pick the right pickle fork one that just fits around the stud, then instead of trying to pry with the fork....pound it in between the grease joint and the tierod with a BFG (big f-in hammer) keep pounding the the tapered tines of the pickle fork will eventually pop it out.

I feel your pain, it held me up for a couple of hours until I finally figured it out.

 

Hope this helps...I drew you a picture b/c, well their worth 1000 words. what can I say I'm a visual person...

 

You can go to your local Autozone and borrow a tie rod remover. Much better than a pitch fork. the hole on the rod is tapered.

 

You can buy a tie rod end remover that look like this for less than 20.00

 

Wow guys, thanks for all the help.

I ended up trying it for a few more minutes, then got fed up and took it to a local shop. The guy used his power pickle fork and the bolt shot out in like 3 seconds...lol. He didn't even charge me for it or anything, so I guess it turned out all right.

That ended up taking a LOT more time than I had anticipated...

 

Well, I'm doing this right now actually... and it's being such a PITA!!! I'm gonna try heating it up and see if that works. I'll let you guys know.

 

when i did mine i used a coworkers balljoint puller... these thigns are great, the do tierods, balljoints, idler arms, pitman arms... everything

 

It's not worth the work...call around and ask who will pop it out for ya--it'll take them like 5 seconds literally.

My problem was not necessarily what I was using to remove the bolt but how much force per second I was able to place on the bolt in the correct direction.

 

Well, it's out. Mt dad and I tried everything. I came to work today thinking I was going to have to take it tomorrow to get a new tie rod put on. We yanked off the stock stabilizer, cut off the joint-thingy, used a hammer, pry bar, and even tried to drill it out. Nothing worked. My dad called me today at work though and said he got it out. THANK YOU DAD!!! I don't know how he did it, but he did. Now I can go wheeling tomorrow!

 

I heated it up with a propane torch for awhile then pickle forked it out.

POP!

 

I tried this by got tired of the smell of burning grease so I sawzalled it off and drilled out the remaining part of the stud.

 

Tons of PB Blaster and a pickle fork worked for me. It took me forever and much frustration but it eventually just popped off. I honestly spent probably an hour on getting it out.