track rod removal!!

[nothelle300]

just started today on removing all suspension/steering wearing parts,and cannot remove the track rods!Gave them some heat and still cant!Any ideas on how to remove them, bar removing the whole track arm, or is this a easy job.Also is their any need to replace the drop link arms unless the gaiters have split/broken, same with the bottom end ball joints?
many thanks
dean

[S2 Ant]

if you cant get them off in the car, then next easiest thing it to remove the arm itself.
You're gonna need your tracking done again either way, so if you can get the threaded adjuster to turn then remove that and get the end off in a vice or something, then make sure you copper slip everything up properly afterwards.

[nothelle300]

hi ant had the car tracked only last week but the one adjuster had siezed completely.Problem is a cant get the track rod ends off at the moment, however when it was tracked they removed the track rod end and just wound it in as the adjuster is siezed.Now i can get them off atall!Can you buy the adjuster/lock nuts seperate,or would you have to buy the whole arm?
dean

[S2 Ant]

The adjuster thread part ive not found available.

What ive done before to get them off is to grip the adjuster with the correct sized spanner or good molegrips and used a big pair of swan necks to try rotate the trackrod end off by using the part the nut goes on for leverage if that makes sense.

Otherwise you may have to take the whole arm off to get it off as once its right off its so much easier to work on

[Mikes2]

The lock nut for the track rod end is a reverse thread. Needs to be turned clockwise to undo it.

[Azman]

I had a problem with seized track rod adjusters, couldn't find the adjuster bit anywhere so I had to buy new arms. Removing them was not that hard but getting them back is a bit of a pain. Probably easier with 2 people to get the line up for the bolts right.

[S2 Ant]

Its also much easier if you dont have a 3B as the battery tray and battery etc isnt in the way.
Replacing the whole arm might be a bit drastic tho, but i think from somewhere like GSF its about £40 a side so not that expensive, ive also had a patent track rod end and if anything i prefer that to the genuine one, so if things really are that bad then maybe try GSF. Ive not seen the complete arm to know what its like but i cant imagine it being that bad tho.

[nothelle300]

had a look on eurocarparts and the track rod arm is only £26 which isnt so bad!Gotta get the track rod ends off first!Dont thing any of the bushes etc have ever been replaced as every nut and bolt so far is seized or damn near impossible to remove>But for a car which has done 170000mile and 15 years old im v.impressed

[Azman]

What I had to do as I had the same problem was to get some movement on the nut and then put plenty of pressure on the top of the ball joint with a lever bar and my mate putting the pressure on. If that did not work on one side I actually cut the end of the thread off so I only had half the distance to move the nut (not a prob as replacing the parts).

One little hint. Ring up ECP first and make sure you get the LEFORDER parts and not the FRAP ones. The FRAP ones are thinner then OE and the LEFORDER ones are the same thickness and quality as OE if not slightly better.

Something else I have done is wrap the adjusters when they have been set correctly to prevent them from seizing again. Also a good dose of silicone spray will stop them from rusting.

Any other probs give me PM as I have been through most.

I am doing the same as you except I will be replacing the Wishbones too as mine are bumped and one looks slightly bent from someone putting a bush in previously.