Ball joint

[Azman]

Hi guys,


Now before I lose my rag completely with the car, I have been getting the legs off today so that I can get new insets put in as one is leaking, (upgrading to RS2 Items too) so one side bit of a struggle with the good old Roll bar link (metal one) but all good in the end after having to use a nut splitter to get the steering arm ball joint nut off but at least it came through the arm with a few hammer bangs. Soooo onto the passenger side, this time no probs at all with the roll bar btu spent 3 hours on the ball joint on the steering arm with still no avail, need to get it shifted asap so I can get the legs in tomorrow and the car back on the road by PM tomorrow too. Erm suggestions,

Used large ball joint splitters (couldn't quite get em in the gap to be of any use though)
USed leverage and the good old hammer (slightly bent the steerning arm but managed to get it back into shape).
That is lever up and down too....

Stuck did have it soaking in 3in1 all night too to help today but obviously not.

So going to need a new one but also can we buy the adjusters seperatlt too???

Cheers

Az

[s2martyn]

thats caled the track rod end (tre)not ball joint..they are available from gsf at about £6,not sure about the adjusters tho

[mcandmar]

I always used one of these, leave the nut on so its flush with the top, crank the clamp down a few turns and smack the strut with a hammer. The clamp will get it off with ease but keep an eye on the balljoint stud incase it starts to deform it. If its really stuck i'd heat the strut up with a gas torch.

[s2_bo]

I found if you use a dremil to cut a slot in the top of the threaded shaft just above the nut you can hold it with a large flat headed screwdriver to stop it spinning while undoing the nut. It worked for me and I now always slot them before replacing them.

[S2Coupe_Nic]

Sorry, this is a bit off topic but..would a warn/damaged track rod end cause my steering to tug sharply both left and right? Is the same sensation as travelling in lane one of a warn motorway, where the HGV's have made small goves and when driving on them you get pulled left and right as your wheels travel in and out of the them. If you know what I mean

Thanks as always

Nic

[Azman]

@ S2 bo, tis not the nut that is the problem good sir, tis the fact that the bleedinf thing will not come out of the hole on the leg, which is still getting my goat, going to try to borrow some small nose ball joint seperators tomorrow, TBH I have stuffed the thread end of the track rodend (sorry) anyway so will need a new one! any one ever found a rose joint that does the job the same in stainless? Been looking and may have found a supplier for some adjusters ( the bit in the middle but need clairifcation on this (awaiting email response).

Cheers n here to hoping all comes good tomorrow will keep informed of my desperation.

Cheers for help guys.

Az

[macspring]

Azman,

Mcandmar's splitter is available from Halfords, but I found it tends to be too big to get right in to be in the correct postion if one wants to reuse the ball joint.

I found with my car I had to take off the strut housing with the shock by disconnecting the double ended threaded bar / adjuster. Once I had the strut on the bench held carefully in a vice, I used a Draper two legged pullers, which has a pointed top on the threaded bar with dove-tailed perfectly into the 'hole' on the top of the ball joint.

To stop the legs of the pullers slipping off the edge of the arm of the strut I used a G shaped clamp on the two legs of the pullers to keep them in position. Then one just uses a spanner on the threaded bar of the pullers and it snap undone with a bang.

Takes a while to set up, but is very pleasing to get it apart with out any damage.

Hope you can understand the above without the benefit of photgraphs.

Always remember to copper grease the track rod end threaded bar as it is a pig to adjust / undo when it is seized.

HTH.

Kind regards.

[Azman]

Chhers for that good sir it has given me an idea!!! Nice one. Thanks

[Error404]

Quinton Hazel make the track rod adjusters mate - there is a part number on here somewhere, have a search for "Track rod adjuster"

[Alistair E]

Just ordered a pair of adjusters. QH part number is QR5005S. £6.50 +vat each. I checked first with QH and they had them in stock. They also gave me the name of the local stockist. If you order Mon-Thurs, should be next day delivery.

Alistair

Quinton Hazel make the track rod adjusters mate - there is a part number on here somewhere, have a search for "Track rod adjuster"