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Thread: Tie rods ends won't screw off

  1. #1
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    Question Tie rods ends won't screw off

    I've already popped the ball joint off but they absolutely won't budge when trying to unscrew them. All the tutorials I've seen make it seem easy to unscrew them, any tips? I've already doused them in wd-40 and pb blaster, they're trw tie rod ends from the last owner

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  3. #3
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    Not surprising, given where you live.

    You need a tool to spread the sleeve after loosening the clamp nut. It's a socket with a small square end that fits into to slot of the sleeve. Turning the socket spreads the sleeve.
    Last edited by edjack; 10-15-2018 at 07:05 PM.


    Ed in San Jose '97 540i 6 speed aspensilber over aubergine leather. Build date 3/97. Golden Gate Chapter BMW CCA Nr 62319.

  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by fedisrico View Post
    I've already popped the ball joint off but they absolutely won't budge when trying to unscrew them. All the tutorials I've seen make it seem easy to unscrew them, any tips? I've already doused them in wd-40 and pb blaster, they're trw tie rod ends from the last owner
    the problem is you live in chicago..

    also rust... & chicago rust is immune to wd40.

    its nasty, so if your going to be replacing the tie rods, i just used a bandsaw & cut them off.

  5. #5
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    Try pb blast. You can get it at any parts store. Let it soak in for awhile.

  6. #6
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    Are you attempting to remove at the inner joint (32” wrench) or the outer section? Having done this job recently I can tell you heat is the only way to loosen them. Hit them with some PB blaster and then take a torch to them in 30 sec intervals. They will loosen up with a wrench and a few bangs from a heavy mallet. I can’t be certain mine mine looked like they were frozen with red loctite on the threads. And they were definitely original.

  7. #7
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    Thanks guys, the inner ball joints were really loose so I decided to just order the centerlink instead of trying to unscrew them

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    If your car is 540i, were you able to loosen the pinch bolt?

  9. #9
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    Yeah, the pinch bolts came off pretty easy, they just wouldn’t twist, I had someone help me and we still couldn’t budge it, edjack pointed out you had to use another tool to spread it but I decided it’d be quicker and easier to express ship a new lemforder centerlink from fcpeuro.

    Quick question for anyone, would it be easier to remove the idler arm still attached to the center link and press it out when it’s off the car? I’m not replacing the Pittman or idler arm so I need to put them on the new centerlink

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by fedisrico View Post
    Thanks guys, the inner ball joints were really loose so I decided to just order the centerlink instead of trying to unscrew them
    Several years ago I replaced the center link and outer tie rods at the same time (along with all the other steering parts). I removed the original assembly and put the new tie rods onto the new center link and matched the original dimensions as close as I could. When I had it all together the alignment was so close that I didn't even get it aligned right away. When I finally did, the guy said it wasn't even that far off.
    I do not believe in a risk free society where the thrill of living is traded for the safety of existence. Nick Ienatsch

    The law does NOT determine "right" from "wrong". They are unrelated.

    If you put cheap parts on your car, you will soon have a cheap parts car.

  11. #11
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    Is the tie rod end ball joint still attached to the hub? With the ball joint still attached to the hub, you just need to twist center link, at least that was what I did few years ago.

  12. #12
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    Replace everything as they have lived their respective life
    https://www.fcpeuro.com/BMW-parts/54...001&m=20&e=188

    This complete refresh will save you from hunting down one loose part one after another, especially after getting just the tie ends replaced. Most posters who have just replaced one or two parts on the center steering link report that they now have shuttering on hard braking or other vibrations that they chase. They often gone down the "rotors out of round" path only to discover that an idler arm was the issue or the center link itself was the issue, etc.
    Save your brain and pain. E39 are hyper sensitive to suspension vibrations and replacing one new part in a system that has multiple parts allows the one old worn part to get all the stress and cause a rpm/ speed specific vibration.
    Last edited by StephenVA; 10-17-2018 at 09:53 PM.
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  13. #13
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    geargrinder is offline Having No Trouble Here BMW CCA Member
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  14. #14
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    Stephen, I'm putting it for sale right after I finish and get an alignment and oil change, 540's don't do too good in Chicago winters so I'm just doing enough to get it sellable

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by fedisrico View Post
    I'm just doing enough to get it sellable
    Sadness...
    I do not believe in a risk free society where the thrill of living is traded for the safety of existence. Nick Ienatsch

    The law does NOT determine "right" from "wrong". They are unrelated.

    If you put cheap parts on your car, you will soon have a cheap parts car.

  16. #16
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    In that case fix only the items that are safety related and kick it over the curb.
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  17. #17
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    UPDATE: The new lemforder centerlink came in today, but one of the inner tie rods was poking through the box when I received it. This ball joint is now very loose and moves around with no effort while the other one is very stiff and takes effort to move it even a little bit. There's no rips or grease leaking as i can tell but there is a sticky sound when I move the loose one.

    Is the ball joint damaged? I know they're supposed to move around but I'm not sure if it should be so lose before it's even on the car, especially since the other one is so stiff. I'd hate t have to return it and have my car in the garage for another week

  18. #18
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    They should be fairly stiff it's new. Heck, I still have my car's origonal centerlink and tie rods in the garage. They had 120,000 miles on them when I replaced them and they are still stiff.
    I do not believe in a risk free society where the thrill of living is traded for the safety of existence. Nick Ienatsch

    The law does NOT determine "right" from "wrong". They are unrelated.

    If you put cheap parts on your car, you will soon have a cheap parts car.

  19. #19
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    I refreshed my entire front suspension a few years back and the difference was amazing. The steering feels tight and stiff again, like a totally different car

  20. #20
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    Anyone else have easy to move balljoints?
    Last edited by fedisrico; 10-19-2018 at 02:29 AM.

  21. #21
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    Balljoint should be stiff, that one is no good, better return it and exchange another one.

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