Tie Rod Castle Nut

Replacing the LBJs and removing by flipping the castle nut and pounding left it stripped. What/(where?) can i get another asap? Would Ace have something?

Thanks (yeah next time use a puller...)

 

Castle nut you’ll only get at the dealer.

 

Maybe O'reilly while you get an OEM replacement. It will be Standard not Metric. Did that same on my mom's Camry. Took 3 days, but I got it replaced.

 

Dealer will 100% have in stock.

 

I thought I would assist in looking up a part number for you, but I'm not having any luck locating the castle nut by itself.

 

I'll call the dealer now. Thanks

 

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I'd be highly surprised if it is

 

Ordered a new one from the dealer. Should be in tomorrow. Funny the LBJ on the drivers side is still stuck after all that pounding with a mallet. I will rent a puller tomorrow as well.

 

Something that should be mentioned on the FB groups, dont heat the knuckle. I've seen more than one get heat-treated and bend or crack. Press the ubj out after removing the c-clip.

 

I used a pickle fork on mine. Cheap and as long as you aren't planning to reuse what you're removing it works great.

 

UBJ are a bitch. I recommend just pulling the knuckle, honestly.

 

Also OP did your new ball joints not come with new castle nuts? I don't recall seeing your order part numbers but they usually come with new.

 

Yeah, the castle nut that got fubarred is the one that attaches to the tie rod, it is the smaller of the two castle nuts on the LBJ.

 

This seems surprisingly common. Even when using a puller. I took the advice to turn the castle nut upside down and leave it flush with the bolt top, so that when the puller broke it free, the nut would keep things from going flying.

That's good advice, but...the problem is there are different types/sizes of pullers. The one I used had a cup that was big enough that I wasn't actually pushing on the bolt, it was only making contact with and pushing on the castle nut. It broke things free, but with that release of pressure it also forced the castle nut down, stripping the threads as it went.

I found nylock nuts at ACE to get the truck back on the road while I waited for the castle nuts to get delivered from a dealership.

 

https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p...z3Ke4uoP7juUZinXFjRoChU8QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

Thanks as always for all the advice. I don't think that I want to buy a puller kit: too little use. I will rent a puller from O' Reilly and pick up the new tie rod castle nut. Hopefully things will go better tomorrow.

BTW, I did complete the passenger's side and used the flipped castle nut and a mallet. I can't believe how much force was needed to break the LBJ free. After this job, the truck should be good for a long time. Just hit 200K miles on a trip from AZ to NY and back.

 

That’s their loaner program I showed. You get your $145 back when you return the kit.

 

Doh, haha. I saw the price and thought "nope I don't need to buy that."

 

@robabeatle You did go OEM on the ball joints right?

 

OEM plus 8 new bolts sir!

 

Puller made removal of the driver's side trivial.