Soak the threaded tie-rod end with a penetrant like PB-Blaster,
Break-Free, or Liquid Wrench. Spray it a few times and let it soak in

overnight, then see if you can't unscrew it. A pipe wrench is ideal
but
just a big set of waterpump (big) pliers will do it too. These kinds
of
parts are often stuck together so if you get it apart, be sure to
apply
a dab of antiseize compound on the tie rod threads before reassembly
it.
Are you sure the grinding isn't a bad u-joint or perhaps a bad hub?

Jerry

Eric wrote:
> My TJ's been making a lot of noises when steering lately. To the
point I
> could hold my cell phone out the window and the person on the other
end
> could hear the grinding.
>
> After much checking, it seemed that the tie rod end at the drag link
was the
> culprit. To be honest, I can't seem to finger it, but a buddy of
mine
> crawled under there and swore that was the one. If it were left to
me, I'd
> probably have to replace all of the ones on the passenger side.
>
> Anyhow, getting it out of the drag link just took a minute. Piece
of cake.
> Loosened the retainer. Again, easy stuff. The problem is getting
it out of
> the tie rod. I've got a pretty long pipe-wrench on the tie rod end
and
> can't get it to come loose. Seems like the end is stuck in the tie
rod.
> After playing around with the end itself, I just can't see how
that's making
> the noise, though. I put it back (since I can't get it out!) and
wonder if
> the noise isn't another ball joint. I think it could be the joint
at the
> top of the knuckle (the part the caliper attaches to). I know if
you shoot
> grease into that zerk it comes right out of the dust boot.
>
> Any thoughts? How do you get a tie rod end out when it's stuck like
that?
> Honestly, this could be a lack-of-muscle issue, but I had good
leverage.
>
> Eric
> 99 TJ SE
>
>
>
--
Jerry Bransford
PP-ASEL N6TAY
See the Geezer Jeep at
http://members.***.net/jerrypb/


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