Hi There, looking to replace my inner track rods / track rod ends shortly as they are seized solid and can no longer be adjusted.

 

After any tips really, access looks a nightmare to replacing the clips on the inside of the boot! Might be a cable tie job!

 

Have borrowed the tool from a mate to undo the track rod from the rack, but unfortunately as the rod end can't be removed it will need cutting off, was hoping not to have to do that so I could remove the whole assembly and measure it prior to fitting the new ones, at least get it most of the way there before taking it for 4 wheel alignment.

If you are going to be cutting then why not just carefully disc cut off the track rod ends & clean up the threads to fit new ones? It will be quicker and cheaper. Fitting new track rods is a ball-ache.

 

I am talking about cutting a longitudinal slit along the track rod end down to the thread OD and then splitting it with a chisel, you may not need to do the latter, the heat alone will usually allow the track rod to be rotated in the joint.

1 hour ago, J.R. said:

If you are going to be cutting then why not just carefully disc cut off the track rod ends & clean up the threads to fit new ones? It will be quicker and cheaper. Fitting new track rods is a ball-ache.

 

I am talking about cutting a longitudinal slit along the track rod end down to the thread OD and then splitting it with a chisel, you may not need to do the latter, the heat alone will usually allow the track rod to be rotated in the joint.

For the few extra quid it was to get whole new rods I thought better to replace the lot, pig sick of tyres wearing unevenly so getting as much as possible nice and tight before getting the alignment done.

 

Car has done 199,000 miles now so I would imagine the inner track rod joint has a bit of play in it now.

I had one develop wear at 250k miles, the other was still fine at 325000 miles, I thought that I would be able to remove a shim like older vehicles but they were a swaged joint, all I did was deform it in my hydraulic press & there was no play it it lasted for the remaining years and miles.

 

A pig of a job to remove, I did not know there was a special tool and a pig to replace the gaiter clip, I would avoid it if I could these days.

Gonna give it a go using jubilee clips, agreed it does look a bloody nightmare to get factory clips in!

Tywraps!

Lockwire.

Superglue? :-)