I cant get the pinch bolt loose that holds in the tie rod end so Im currently stuck. I was able to get the nut off easily but the bolt will not screw out. I dont get how your suppose to turn it out. Ive tried self locking pliers to try to get a grip on it and all im doing is stripping the hell out of it. I even took a torch to it and no luck. Im lost

In the pic below im talking about the number 3 bolt. Everything else im able to get loose but not this little bugger.

 

I just ran into this problem myself this week. Get out your 4lb sledge hammer, appropriate sized punch and a mapp gas torch.

First, heat the living crap out of the side of the wheel bearing housing(the "spindle") near the bolt. I think I held my mapp gas torch on there for about a minute or so.

Then, start hitting the bolt with the 4lb sledge hammer until it starts moving and becomes even with the spindle. Finish it off by using the punch to move it through the spindle.

Be careful to not burn up the tie rod end bushing when applying the heat, and make sure to wear protective goggles over your eyes.

Heat & violence wins every time.

Oh yeah, don't hit your hand with the sledge. It hurts.

 

It isn't threaded on the inside if I remember correctly. It's a self locking bolt head, just hit it like Jdahlen24 says.

 

The bolt was basically fused into the spindle. I have never hit something so hard with a sledge hammer before, I felt like Paul Bunyan. You guys were right, heat and violence won the battle.

 

Good man. Felt good, didn't it?

 

For the record, it isn't threaded through the spindle - only on the end for the nut. You can't turn it out either, at least initially, as the bolt head has a flat side that mates against a flat casting on the spindle to keep it from turning and loosening. You have to drive it straight out. Prying the pinch section open somewhat can help release the bolt as well.

 

Devil, what do you recommend people use to pry the pinch section open? I didn't have anything handy that really worked for that.

 

Either a short prybar or a sturdy screwdriver usually works - basically the beefiest bladed tool you can get in there.

 

Devil,

Your right, I used a big flat bladed screw driver to pry my pinch bolt apart and it worked very well. Unfortunately since I am in Texas and this new car has been here most of it's life the pinch bolt wasn't very hard to remove at all, it just popped right out. For that matter so did all the bolts on my front upper rear control arm too......

 

Hi,
Same problem here. I've heated it and clobbered it and it has not budged. Tried to undo the nut again and sheared the bolt. Any idea as to where to urgently find a new pinch bolt and further ideas on removal of the old one would be appreciated.