Stuck jam nut on outer tie rod end

[JASinIL2006]

Hi all, I've embarked on trying something I've not done before: changing out the wear components on my 2005 4WD F150 front end. After 100,000 miles, I needed new ball joints and struts, so as long as I've got everything torn apart I'm replacing the upper control arms, lower ball joints, struts, stabilizer bar links and tie rod ends.

So far, I've finished one side and I'm about 60% done with the other side. I'm getting hung up on what should be the easiest part of the job: getting the old outer tie rod ends off. The jam nuts that snug up into the tie rod end don't seem to want to budge, despite being treated repeatedly with rust penetrant and having the exposed threads cleaned.

Any ideas on how to un-jam the jam nuts without completely buggering up the whole tie rod assembly?

Thanks!

 

[cobalt1999]

Use a plumbers stillson wrench {pipe wrench) or take two heavy hammers and swing them both to smash the nut in-between to break it loose.

 

[robert graham]

Maybe apply some heat with, say a propane torch....may expand the nut and break it free...

 

[Scott Danforth]

buy new tie rod - throw away old one.

 

[MTboatguy]

Nut buster, they loan them at many of the auto shops, also heat will often times help, last set I did on my 3/4 I used and air chisel and just put new stuff on it.

 

[82rude]

Seeing as how your replacing lots already id do all out and do all tie rods and if necessary cut them off.No matter what you do make sure you get a front end alignment .

 

[JASinIL2006]

Thanks for all the responses. I'm going to try the propane torch and if that doesn't work, I'll just pull the whole tie rod and replace it all. Ironic that what was supposed to be the easiest part of this job has become such a pain!

The second biggest pain has been trying to find a way to torque the lower strut bolt to the lower control arm to 351 ft. lbs. I've not even seen a torque wrench that goes so high. For now, I've just cranked it on with a breaker bar and a 6' section of pipe. When I go in for an alignment, I'll ask the shop to check it.

 

[MTboatguy]

351 foot pounds is NOT the right number, the service manual I have states 121-148 on the lower nut, 351 is just about impossible to attain and I don't care what you do! That is a misprint!

These numbers are directly out of the shop manual!

Here are the numbers right out of the Ford Workshop Manual.

Torque Specifications
Description Nm Lb-Ft
Brake Hose Bracket to Front
Suspension Lower Arm Screw 13-17 10-13

Front Stabilizer Bar Bracket Bolt 26-35 19-26
Front Stabilizer Bar Link Nut 21-29 15-21
Front Suspension Lower Arm Nut 164-200 121-148
Front Suspension Upper Arm Cam
Bolts and Nuts 113-153 84-112

Front Suspension Upper Arm Nut 113-153 84-112
Lower Ball Joint Nut 113-153 83-112
Shock Absorber Lower Nuts 30-40 22-29
Tie Rod Castellated Nut 77-103 57-76
Upper Ball Joint Castellated Nut 77-103 57-76
Upper Shock Absorber Nut 47-63 35-46

 

[JASinIL2006]

The page I have from the service manual says 351... what year of truck is your manual for? I believe earlier years used the 148 ft lbs, then increased when they went with the super-beefy aluminum lower control arms.

This is what I have:

Front Suspension
Wheel hub-to-wheel knuckle bolts 200 148
Tie-rod end nut 150 111
Front axle-to-wheel hub nut (4x4) 27 20
Upper ball joint nut 115 85
Upper arm-to-frame nuts 150 111
Lower ball joint nut 150 111
Lower arm-to-frame bolt and nut 300 222
Shock absorber upper mounting plate-to-frame nuts (M10) 48 35
Shock absorber-to-lower arm bolt and nut (M20) 475 351
Stabilizer bar bracket-to-frame bolts 48 35
Stabilizer bar-to-link nut 133 98
Stabilizer bar-to-link to lower control arm nut 90 66
Anti-lock brake sensor bolt 18 13
Caliper anchor plate-to-wheel knuckle bolts 200 148
Caliper-to-anchor plate bolts 32 24

 

[JASinIL2006]

The torch did it! I most likely will replace the inner tie rod ends before too long, but they are OK for now and I am glad to be done with this project.

Thanks again for the suggestions!

 

[Scott Danforth]

We have torque wrenches at work that go up to 400 lb-ft, and one 600. Wr also have 4:1 multipliers and 16:1 as well

 

[JASinIL2006]

I got it as high as my wrench goes - 250ft lbs. - and then I cranked on it a bit more with the breaker bar and 6’ pipe. Between that and some Loctite, I don’t think that nut is goung anywhere.

 

[MTboatguy]

We have torque wrenches at work that go up to 400 lb-ft, and one 600. Wr also have 4:1 multipliers and 16:1 as well

Scott those are specialty tools and I would bet less than a handful of people in the united states would actually have those in their home work shop.

==================================

Glad you got it back together.

 

[JASinIL2006]

If you visit the F150online.com forums and search the 2004-2009 forum for “torque strut” you will find many references to the 351 ft. Lb. spec for the lower strut bolt. I don’t think it’s a typo; among owners of F150s of this vintage, it seems pretty well accepted that the correct torque spec is 351ft. lbs.

I would imagine every Ford service center in the U.S. has the equipment to torque those bolts.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Scott those are specialty tools and I would bet less than a handful of people in the united states would actually have those in their home work shop.

==================================

Glad you got it back together.

all our techs own their own tools. the torque multipliers are considered specialty and owned by the company half our techs own their own 400ft-lb. they are about $130 the proto 600ft-lb is about $400 (snapon price is much higher) that one is owned by a guy in assembly that used to run an automotive shop.

 

[MTboatguy]

If you visit the F150online.com forums and search the 2004-2009 forum for “torque strut” you will find many references to the 351 ft. Lb. spec for the lower strut bolt. I don’t think it’s a typo; among owners of F150s of this vintage, it seems pretty well accepted that the correct torque spec is 351ft. lbs.

I would imagine every Ford service center in the U.S. has the equipment to torque those bolts.

I am sure they do, but that is noy the guy doing work on his own truck in his own driveway, I have some really heavy duty tools, up to 3 inch open end wrenches and that kind of stuff, but I can honestly say, I don't have a torque wrench that will go to 350 pounds!

:concern:

 

[JASinIL2006]

I am sure they do, but that is noy the guy doing work on his own truck in his own driveway, I have some really heavy duty tools, up to 3 inch open end wrenches and that kind of stuff, but I can honestly say, I don't have a torque wrench that will go to 350 pounds!

:concern:

I agree, I was just responding to your statement, "351 foot pounds is NOT the right number, the service manual I have states 121-148 on the lower nut, 351 is just about impossible to attain and I don't care what you do! That is a misprint!"

I had the front end aligned yesterday and the guy at CarX confirmed I had torqued the strut bolts to 350 with my breaker bar and iron pipe. His torque wrench went up to 400 ft. lbs. and it was a hefty wrench! I don't think I'll invest in one myself, though. With any luck, I won't be replacing the struts anytime soon...

 

[MTboatguy]

I agree, I was just responding to your statement, "351 foot pounds is NOT the right number, the service manual I have states 121-148 on the lower nut, 351 is just about impossible to attain and I don't care what you do! That is a misprint!"

I had the front end aligned yesterday and the guy at CarX confirmed I had torqued the strut bolts to 350 with my breaker bar and iron pipe. His torque wrench went up to 400 ft. lbs. and it was a hefty wrench! I don't think I'll invest in one myself, though. With any luck, I won't be replacing the struts anytime soon...

I am sure the OP and I are talking about a different nut, My last mud truck with 40" tires on it, didn't have a specification that high on anything and it was a 1 ton.

Being honest, I don't think I would have it in me anymore to even try to torque a bolt or nut that tight without a force multiplier.

 

[JASinIL2006]

2005 F150 XLT Super crew cab. It's the lower control arm nut and bolt in the picture. From what I've learned, sometime after the 2004 series F150s (2004-2009) were released, some aspects of the suspension were changed. The sway bar link is different and the bolt and torque spec for attaching the strut to the LCA went up from 148 to 351; some '05s have the old style and some have the newer style.

 

[dolluper]

My cheapo 3/4 " torque wrench goes to 600 lbs the pro blue point goes to 1200 lbs. Blue point is the cheapo part of snap on.