Track Rod End Failure with potential fatal consequences!

[S2 Ant]

Just been out to my car as i heard a funny knocking noise whilst driving home yesterday and the steering had started to tramline quite badly all of a sudden.

Upon inspection the steering arm that goes to the left wheel had some movement, strange i thought, checked it out further to find that the thread on the end of the track rod has been stripped by the nut and was only being held on by 1 turn, 2 max!!!!

I replaced both sides only a couple of months ago altho had to replace the drivers side after the thread stripped with the brand new nut that came with it, now i've got to replace this side again, so the 4th track rod end from them now!!!

I know its covered under parts warrenty but now i know the problem i darent move it until its done as the outcome coule be lethal for myself and anyone around me at the time.

The worst part is i was doing 70+mph on my drive home, so the potential mess that could have been caused is huge, im relieved ive found the problem at home but at the same time annoyed that ive had 2 genuine parts fail on me now very very quickly!

They were fitted correctly as well as i dont like to bodge or shortcut any jobs esp ones with critical parts like this on!

[4WheelDrifter]

Damn! My car has started tramlining badly recently, and the tracking has definitely gone out. I replaced my track rod ends last year, and they were smaller and lighter than the old ones. Cheers for the warning. I'll be checking mine now.

[mcandmar]

BTDT, I bought a set for my car and also found on inspection the threads were much finer on the new items vs the original Audi items. I didnt think much of it but the first time i removed them again the threads were stripped and all messed up.

I ended up fitting the original items again, i've been meaning to check with Martyn which ones he can supply as the cheap ones i bought were an accident waiting to happen.

Mark.

[Rusty]

I noticed that the track rod ends that I got were smaller than the originals and posted a couple of threads a while ago. They did seem substantially smaller and on a car of the power and weight of the S2 it just didn't seem right. Thanks for the warning Ant, I'll have to check mine asap.

[Fat Audi 80]

Are these OEM ones that you guys have fitted or pattern parts?

Cheers,

Steve

[Rusty]

OEM from VAG parts. Contacted them about it but was assured that they were the correct part.

[Fat Audi 80]

**** - That does not sound good. And there was me ready to take the piss out of you for buying chinese parts

[Rusty]

No mucking about with the old girl. Far too heavy and fast to cut any corners. Wasn't happy at all at the time. **** indeed!

[S2 Ant]

Mine were also genuine items bought thru main dealer, 2 fitted, 1 went belly up and now the other has as well!

[Fat Audi 80]

Are there any Pattern parts that may be better?

[Rusty]

I fooking hope so if these little'uns are going to fall apart!

[SteveH]

I've had one track rod end come loose in the past 6 months and two just about fall to bits. They all came from the stealers! Perhaps there is an issue with manufacture on these items..How long do they last on average for most peeps?

[S2central.net]

See you are all going to freak me out now... I fitted two new genuine ones (via VAGparts) a few months ago. Must admit they didn't look any different than what was on it and the threads were perfect.

Hope this isn't a nasty batch issue.

Only track rod failure on an Audi I ever had before was on the INNER joint where it connects to the rack on a Type85 Coupe GT. Must of had a guardian angel watching us that day I can tell you. It actually broke whilst doing a u-turn in a Dublin side street. Caused some minor traffic mayhem whilst I had to get in and out of the car - manually moving the wheel which was no longer connected to the rack. Nobody helped of course... but I was damn relieved it happened there and not at motorway speeds somewhere else. Scarey stuff...

Had to get a flatbed to a friends house where we fixed the car with a new bracket that he welded up on the fly.

Paul

[S2 Ant]

Ive forwarded a link to this thread now to my friend at the Stealers, so if anyone else has had dodgy track rod ends can they post for reference as they will be going thru the warrenty thing they do as a possible bad lot being made.

[Greg_S]

I will have to check mine too i think. I replaced both steering arms last year and tramlining is a problem at the moment too and I havent been able to track down why yet. So its worth checking