Hi all,

Got any magic advice for removing track rod ends?

The lock nut & track rod end had almost formed one solid item with rust. Only after lots of WD40/heat and finally mole grips did I shift the lock nut.

Although now the actual track rod end will not budge. :'( In theory the track rod end should be screwed onto the steering rack arm and it is only the lock nut that is tight. So with luck nut removed you can hold the steering rack arm on the 13mm flats and remove the track rod. Not on this one. The damn thing is on there for life!

I see there are two types of track rod end. I have the 'bent' one.

Use a dismantling fluid such as PlusGas - it works.

Use a dismantling fluid such as PlusGas - it works.

I'll agree with that, although I changed my track rod ends 2 years ago, when I adjusted my tracking the other week, one of them was a right b!tch to slacken off the nut :'(

WD40 is used for lucubration, and not as dismantling fluid. Use the proper tools and the job becomes easier.

Edited 24 May, 201115 yr by mbames

Yes I must get some of that stuff, always heard about it but never used. I have used diesel before because it is good at creeping through.

In the end I skinned the track rod end like a banana. If only metal peeled like a banana. It was slow work and not recommend.

Quite a bit of rust was left in the threads. And the chances of me having or quickly finding a M14 x 1.5 die, well....

I needed a replacement locking nut on the track rod. And again, does anyone sell M14 x 1.5 nuts. :no: NO. Well I did manage to buy some, but I had to travel a fair few miles this morning to get them.

The only other options I thought of were; that I might be able to find a wheel nut (they seem to use the fine metric thread) down the scrappy or buy another track rod end and remove a portion of the end to make my own lock nut.

Anyway, the car now has a new MOT.

Was it worth all the hassle and skinned knuckles to save £140 and not get VW do the job?..

Was it worth all the hassle and skinned knuckles to save £140 and not get VW do the job?..

I hate paying to have what seem like simple jobs done. Thus my car has never really been to the garage for a job (unless it needed doing to get it through the MOT - and that was a replacement track rod end - I did the other side a few weeks later).

Oh, I did let Skoda change the clutch hydraulic fluid pipe as that look like a bit of a pain to do! I got my car back with some additional tie wraps under the bonnet!

at least it's sorted, who did you use for your MOT? Any chance of you doing the window function on my car mate?

Just used Ridgeway VW in Wantage as they have £35 MOT at the minute. Discounted MOT's seem rare around here.

Regarding window function - Sorry I have been waiting for you to contact me when you want it done. Ring/txt to check I am in and have laptop charged, then come on over to mine and we will get it sorted.

bugger didn't realise they were doing them that cheap!! My mate owns a garage in Stanford in the Vale and does mine for £40.

You free any eve this week?

bugger didn't realise they were doing them that cheap!! My mate owns a garage in Stanford in the Vale and does mine for £40.

You free any eve this week?

Tonight and probably tomorrow. Like I say, give me a call/txt when you are free to see if I am free. Organising things on the forum takes too long.

okay bud, I'll text you tomorrow am.

Just being nosey, but what's the window thing?

being able to wind them up and down off of the remote, Higgy has kindly offered to enable this on my car.

Ah cool, do you know if it is something you can do with vagcom?

being able to wind them up and down off of the remote, Higgy has kindly offered to enable this on my car.

I have this on my remote. Think someone did it for me via vagcom or similer software. To be honest it is a bit pointless as you have to keep your finger on the button to make sure the windows close all the way. I have left the windows half open a few times now. Shame the software does not allow the remote to be pressed once and they automatically go up or down.

I have this on my remote. Think someone did it for me via vagcom or similer software. To be honest it is a bit pointless as you have to keep your finger on the button to make sure the windows close all the way. I have left the windows half open a few times now. Shame the software does not allow the remote to be pressed once and they automatically go up or down.

Mine does, but I have an alientech controller fitted