Track rod end inner joint play

[adam quantrill]

Hi I have some play in the track rod - I have to have a good look but I think it's the inner end rather than the easily fixed outer end.

The steering rack is a PAS rack.

Are these fixed by changing them or does it usually affect the swivel joint on the end of the rack too?

[pk500]

Looked into getting new inner joints they are no longer available on there own . when you get rack referbed they come back done ! Most modern cars you can just replace them

[wild rover]

Best of luck Adam hope the cups aren't welded onto the rack like mine

[adam quantrill]

Thanks for the replies. If the rack needs doing I'll have to get it out - do they come out without moving the engine or what?

Also is Kiley Clinton still the goto place for refurbs?

[pk500]

Take off wheels remove pipes and lower coupling and wiggle them out

[mrzigazaga]

adam quantrill said:

Also is Kiley Clinton still the goto place for refurbs?

Hi Adam


Its best to call them and make sure they can still get all the internals, yours is probably a TVR "Supra" rack.......


Cheers


Ziga

[adam quantrill]

Tried calling today but went to a (full ) voicemail.

Anyhow this is the culprit:



Are we really saying that the end won't unscrew off the ram? There seems to be a couple of flats in ot for a spanner, but on the other hand are those holes concealing something that pins it to stop it rotating?

If it could unscrew by the same dint it could screw up and nip up the slight play.

Anyhow it looks like I have a Supra style rack judging by the pipe arrangement:

[pk500]

It will undo just no one seems to know of a replacement

[adam quantrill]

Time to find my big F******* spanner then.

[njhucker]

I have the same problem on my Supra rack. It was an advisory on my last Mot. I don't have the time or space to look at mine at the moment as I have my Taimar in my garage in bits while i repaint it. I will be interested to know what your solution is.

[adam quantrill]

If the end can be unscrewed then what stops it unscrewing in real life, as there doesn't appear to be a locknut?

[Steve_D]

It is normal for those to be adjusted, then drilled, then a pin fitted.

The two (rather tatty looking) holes may well be the current pinning or a previous attempt.
Often the pin used is simply mild steel (a nail will do) driven into a smaller hole. If this is the case then it may be possible to break the pin whilst undoing the cap. If the pin is hardened or a 'Roll pin' breaking it out may not be possible.

If you get to the point of completing your adjustment chose another point around the cap to drill your new hole making sure the new hole will not go into/near a previous hole in the shaft. The hole only needs to go a small way into the shaft so the pin stops the cap coming undone.

Steve

[John042]

Hi, had the same problem, MOT failure excessive play on inner track rod. Kiley C is your man. The lock ring will be either pinned as previously mentioned or just peen over, some cases Miged. The wear will be in the nylon cup that the ball sits in. I sent the bits to Kiley who matched them with a Ford Coursair. Cost less than a tenner. J C.

[adam quantrill]

Cheers John, I think I'll save the recon for another day but nice to know the parts aren't expensive.

For now I just nipped it up to remove the play, assuming the bearing inside is OK, if the steering feels too stiff then I'll have to think again. Should be good for the MoT next week, also removed two cupfuls of 3-year old grey fluid from the gaiters which made it appear there was a leak, and cleaned it all up.

[John042]

Cheers Adam, at least yours have tightened up. Mine was shot with the plastic cup in pieces. According to Kiley further tightening could have worn the ball end on the track rod, or worse the power steering rack end. Hope Kiley is still trading as I wanted a set for the other side? Good luck with the MOT. Incidentally I seem to remember a setting for the inner joint, maybe in the "Bible"? J C