Best Tie Rod End Separator (2026): 5 Kits Compared

Compared on paper

Specifications are manufacturer rated, as published on each listing and collected 28 October 2026. Where a listing contradicts itself, both figures are shown.

How the points were given

Each kit is scored on performance, build, value, safety listing and warranty, with the weights published on the How We Pick page. A spec the listing does not publish scores nothing. No listing here states a safety certification or a warranty term, so every pick scores zero on safety and warranty.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each product’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Safety counts only for powered gear or where the listing states safety features; where it does not apply, the score is taken over the remaining 90 points.

How to choose the best tie rod end separator

Press type or pickle fork

The split in this group is design, not brand. The Acymner and DAYUAN 3-piece listings state a press type separator that removes a ball joint without damage to boots and other parts, with the Acymner listing adding that fork type removers may cause damage to boots. The ReluxGo set goes the other way: pickle forks that wedge into the joint, driven by a striking handle for use with a conventional hammer or an adapter handle for use with an air hammer. A pickle fork versus ball joint press comparison comes down to that trade: forks are simple and direct, press tools are slower to set up and kinder to boots.

Tool count and coverage

Tool count decides which joints one kit covers. The OMT, DAYUAN 5-piece and Acymner sets each include 5 tools: a ball joint separator, a tie rod and ball joint remover, a conical pitman arm puller, a pitman arm and tie rod end puller and a pitman arm puller. The DAYUAN 3-piece set keeps the 3 most-used tools: a press type ball joint separator, a ball joint splitter and a conical pitman arm puller. The ReluxGo set takes a different shape with 5 pieces: a track rod fork at 11/16 in, a ball joint fork at 15/16 in, a pitman arm fork at 1-1/8 in, a 7-7⁄8 in knurled striking handle and a 6-31⁄32 in adapter handle.

Fit and vehicle range

Stated fit differs by set, so check it before ordering. The OMT and Acymner listings state fit for small, domestic rear-wheel-drive vehicles, import vehicles and light trucks, and the DAYUAN 5-piece listing states fit for most cars and light trucks. The DAYUAN 3-piece listing states fit for domestic and imported front wheel drive vehicles, and the ReluxGo listing states fit for cars and light vans. The DAYUAN 3-piece listing adds a tip worth following on any set here: measure the size of the ball joint before purchasing, and check whether the separator suits that joint.

Case and weight

Weight runs from 4.72 lb on the ReluxGo fork set to 10.72 lb on the DAYUAN 5-piece set, with the OMT set at 10.52 lb, the Acymner set at 10.41 lb and the DAYUAN 3-piece set at 5.35 lb. Every set here includes a case: a custom-molded ABS case on the OMT set, an ABS carrying case on the DAYUAN 5-piece set, a plastic carry case on the Acymner set and a sturdy storage case on the ReluxGo and DAYUAN 3-piece sets. A heavier set stays in the shop; the lighter sets travel to the job.

Garage Fit Check

• Support the vehicle on rated stands on solid level ground, and never get under a vehicle on a jack alone.
• Measure the ball joint size before ordering, and match the fork or puller opening to the joint on the vehicle.
• Check the set contents against the job: tie rod ends, ball joints and pitman arms on the 5-piece sets, with the Acymner listing also naming idler arms, steering linkages and steering boxes.
• Plan storage by weight: the ReluxGo set at 4.72 lb and the DAYUAN 3-piece set at 5.35 lb move easily, while the 5-piece puller sets run from 10.41 lb to 10.72 lb.
• Keep the case with the set: every set here includes one, and a missing puller shape stops a front-end job cold.

FAQ: garage tools

Press type or pickle fork for tie rod ends?

Press type sets state removal without damage to boots and other parts, which suits a joint that must go back into service. Pickle forks wedge into the joint and work fast with a hammer or air hammer, but the Acymner listing states fork type removers may cause damage to boots. Pick the press type when the boot must survive, and the fork set when speed matters more than the boot.

How do you use a tie rod end separator?

The Acymner listing describes the press type routine: choose the compatible puller for the ball joint, insert the puller into the ball joint opening, aim the bolt at the ball joint, and turn the bolt with a ratchet wrench to squeeze the ball joint out. Match the puller to the joint first, since a wrong-size puller seats poorly and wastes the effort.

Will one set fit my vehicle?

That depends on the stated fit and the joint size. The OMT and Acymner listings state fit for small, domestic rear-wheel-drive vehicles, import vehicles and light trucks, the DAYUAN 5-piece listing states fit for most cars and light trucks, and the DAYUAN 3-piece listing states fit for domestic and imported front wheel drive vehicles. Measure the ball joint size before purchasing, per the DAYUAN 3-piece tip, and check the separator against that size.

Do separator sets damage boots?

Press type sets state they do not: the Acymner and DAYUAN 3-piece listings state removal without damage to boots and other parts. Fork type sets work differently, and the Acymner listing states fork type removers may cause damage to boots. If the boot must stay intact, choose a press type set from this list.

What comes in a 5-piece set?

The OMT, DAYUAN 5-piece and Acymner sets each include the same 5 shapes: a ball joint separator, a tie rod and ball joint remover, a conical pitman arm puller, a pitman arm and tie rod end puller and a pitman arm puller, plus a case. The ReluxGo 5-piece set differs: 3 forks and 2 handles instead of 5 pullers.

Related: the best ball joint press kit, the ball joint press versus separator comparison, the best floor jack for cars and the engine and shop equipment hub.