7 replies to this topic

[trooper]

The vertical bolt on the track rod end joint, (as per the photo) that bolts onto the steering arm has seized to the lock nut on top. The nut and bolt just spin round and round but the bolt doesn't appear to have shorn off lower down. Could anyone suggest a solution, or is it a case of buying a whole new end joint? I'm not sure how to fit it without altering the wheel alignment

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[lrostoke]

I'd cut off the nut then use a balljoint spiltter to remove the trackrod end. Measure from a point on the shaft to the pin, and screw new trackrod end in till same distance.
Or count number of turns to remove old one, Normally same size trackrod ends, so if so can then screw new one in same number of turns

[Nikral]

had the same problem with mine, just ended up cutting just below the nut and replacing with new, only £5.

[benjy_18]

if you have a ball joint splitter, the type that you tighten a bolt to tighten the forks, not the one you hammer. then i use it backwards and try to press the taper into the steering arm, this way the shaft of the ball joint cannot spin and the nut comes off.

if that doesnt work then just cut the nut off and fit a new track rod end.

Good luck

[bobs]

Nut splitter, or put some weight on it, to be honest the price of a nut splitter and new nut is probably more that replacing the whole track rod end after you've hacked it off...

[pogie]

Support the car on axel stands and then put your jack under the track rod and lift it until it until it is tight in the steering arm taper, which should stop it spinning when you try to undo it.

[Notay]

+1 to pogie reply

[dklawson]

It is not a bolt. The tapered pin is part of the rod end. As above, put a floor jack under the end of the joint and pump it up until the jack lifts the steering hub "up" quite a bit. This insures lots of force are holding the tapered pin in the arm. With that force applied, undo the nut. If that fails, if putting the weight of the car on the tapered pin will not seat it enough to remove the nut, then try the nut splitter mentioned above OR in desperation you can hacksaw between the top of the arm and the nut. Be careful to not damage the top of the arm.

If the joint has been loose like this for a while, plan on fitting a new rod end. Carefully check the fit of the new rod end in the arm on the hub. If the old rod end pin is damaged, the old arm is likely to have similar damage. Repair is by replacement.

Once the new parts are installed, be sure to take the car in for an alignment.