We're trying to change my clutch (following the Bentley manual) and we've gotten to the point of removing the tie rod ends and control arm steering knuckles. The manual says to use special tools that we don't have and searching shows that people appear to have done this without the tools. Can anyone tell me how? Thanks!

 

download the 2nd Free NAM Alliance mag, upper left hand corner of this web page and see the write up on the 5 speed to 6 speed by TSW it might be helpful.

 

Not familiar with the MINI, but if they are normal tierod ends, they have a tapered fit. Remove nut, turn upside down (to avoid dinging the castle nut), and hit the fitting (the receiver, not the tie rod) with BFH (Big F&%^(^$ Hammer.) A couple of good whacks usually frees them up.

 

Well we went up to NAPA and found a ball joint separator tool. That worked well for both the tie rod ends and the control arms. Thanks for the responses, that Alliance article may still come in handy!