A pickle fork will usually damage the tie rod end/s, so it's best to have new ones available if that's the only way you have of getting them off. More than likely, they are worn enough to need replacing anyways.
There is a special tie rod end puller that wil remove them undamaged, a rental shop may have one. It clamps to the knuckle end and pushes direcly on the stud to pop it loose.
When you reassemble the tie rods, use anti-seize grease on the threads, it will make adjustments easier the next time.
There is a good way of adjusting the toe in with a simple tape measure and a piece of chalk. Have your jeep on a flat hard surface, most driveways will be long enough, too. It helps to have the normal driver in the front seat of the jeep or someone or something that weighs about the same, as weight will effect the toe setting on the XJ (TJ and ZJ too).
After replacing the parts, mark the front of the tires near the centerline of the tread, in a horizontal line with the axle centerline. Usually I pick a convenient tire lug point to get a good measurement from. take your front measurement between the lug points and write it down in 1/16"ths, ie. 57-14/16" (57-3/4") then roll the jeep back or forwards until the two marks are 180* back on the tires, even with the axle centerline at the rear. Measure the SAME two points again. Lets say you now come up with 56-15/16" This means you are toed out 15/16". The goal is about 1/16" toed in at the front. Splitting 15/16" in half, to the closest 1/16" would make it 7/16" plus 8/16", We need to subtract 8/16" from 57-15/16" to get the proper toe in, which leaves us with a goal on the front of 57-7/16". Now turn the tie rod adjuster so that the rear reads 57-8/16" between the points. Roll the jeep back and re-measure the front, if you are at the 1/16" toed in mark, tighten the sleeve bolts. If not, make the adjustment and recheck front to rear measurement. If you have really large tires, 1/8" in at the front is OK.
If the steering wheel is now off center, then the drag link sleeve can be turned to adjust the wheel centering without effecting the toe in.
