I am stripping down the front end of my 56 bug for painting. I got the steering rod ball joints off the stub axles but i cant get them off the steering box end. Are these pressed in ,? will I need a puller to get them off? anyone had this problem?

From Memory...??

the shafts of the tie rod ends are tapered....
so a puller or hit with a hammer should do the trick....
and a bit of WD40....
I think I undid the nut until it was flush with the end of the shaft, then a hit with a hammer....
nuts are pretty soft too....

best of luck

Lee -- 68AutoBug --

http://community.webshots.com/user/vw68autobug 

should only be held in by the nuts. once undone hit the stud with a hammer to release the rubber seal.

Yeah they are tapered, the ends on the stub axles came off easily but these ones are bastards, might try heating them uo.

DO NOT HIT THEM WITH A HAMMER
use a tie rod /ball joint breaker(tool)
if you hit them with a hammer you will f@#k them
if you must hit them because you can't get the correct tool,hold a large hammer on one side of the "eyelet"
and hit the opposing side

If you are still having trouble you can borrow a balljoint separator that I've got, works a treat, I've used it on about 3 front ends now

Cheers
Greg

thanks Greg, will see how I go, will give you a call if i still have problems