JMJ-RIP

What tool would be best to remove he following steering components -
Tie Rod Ends from the part that is bolted to the spindles and the Center Link from the Pitman and Idler arms, without causing any damage.
These have never been off the car and all I really want to do is clean and paint all that I can while the engine is out.

The spindles have green spray paint on the inner surfaces and the left caliper has orange on it, I see nothing on the right caliper so far. Pretty strange the things I am seeing since I now see people adding these factory markings when restoring these cars.

oldcutlass

A shop hammer. There are other videos you can watch.

joe_padavano

I have this kit from OTC. These type of removers that press on the end of the stud are the only way to reliably remove the tapered studs on ball joints and tie rod ends without damaging the grease boot. I have never had success with simply beating the hell out of parts with a hammer.




The best way to separate ball joints is with the Burroughs/Kent Moore "screw jack" tool that goes between the two ball joints on the spindle. There are aftermarket versions that cost a lot less than do originals.

JMJ-RIP

Thanks for the replies:

Eric, my preference is to leave the hammers in the tool box. But yes, I did tap each a few times, after 53 years they are pretty well locked in.

Joe, the OTC tool in the lower left (513241) in the kit, did catch my eye when I was searching tools before I created this post. I will search the kit and also the spindle ball joint tool.