Track rod end and tapered insert
Discussion
Hello all,
I'm hoping to tap into the collective experience on here to help with an issue I have on my 2007 V8 Vantage.
Over the past few months I have noticed a small but very annoying steering wheel shimmy, not vibration as such but at speed there is a noticeable 'wobble' to the steering wheel when dead ahead (not cornering) and is not there at all below 60-70mph.
It's not wheel balance etc as had all that checked.
Investigation revealed that when on jack stands grabbing the front right wheel at 9 and 3 o'clock I could feel a small amount of play - ok so track rod then. On further investigation I realised that the inner track rod end bellows was split, so I assume the inner track rod end ball joint is worn...
I have found a replacement track rod including the inner joint (although Aston don't sell them separately) and it's on order. In the meantime I thought no harm in replacing the outer track rod end and having a good look around.
When removing the old track rod end from the upright it came free quite easily with only mild 'persuasion' but with a tapered aluminium collar still in place on the shaft of the track rod end which should have remained in the upright....
The collar was VERY well stuck onto the track rod end but after applying some heat, a ball joint splitter and various hitting sticks it came round to my way of thinking and let go.
So I fitted this back together with the new track rod end. Wobble still there - so I assume its the inner joint, however has anyone else had the tapered insert come out of the casting for the upright like this?
My new theory is that by being so well stuck to the track rod end shaft it has worn the casting slightly and the tapered insert that the track rod end fits into is is no longer a good tight fit in the upright.
A new upright assembly may well be in my future but it's annoying given that there's nothing else wrong with it, I am wondering about cutting a slit into the tapered insert so that when in place and tightened onto the track rod end it can expand slightly to create a good interference fit.
Before I take a hacksaw to the issue I thought I'd canvas any opinion on here. Apologies for the long explanation in an attempt to explain clearly as I didn't take any photos...
Thanks all!
I'm hoping to tap into the collective experience on here to help with an issue I have on my 2007 V8 Vantage.
Over the past few months I have noticed a small but very annoying steering wheel shimmy, not vibration as such but at speed there is a noticeable 'wobble' to the steering wheel when dead ahead (not cornering) and is not there at all below 60-70mph.
It's not wheel balance etc as had all that checked.
Investigation revealed that when on jack stands grabbing the front right wheel at 9 and 3 o'clock I could feel a small amount of play - ok so track rod then. On further investigation I realised that the inner track rod end bellows was split, so I assume the inner track rod end ball joint is worn...
I have found a replacement track rod including the inner joint (although Aston don't sell them separately) and it's on order. In the meantime I thought no harm in replacing the outer track rod end and having a good look around.
When removing the old track rod end from the upright it came free quite easily with only mild 'persuasion' but with a tapered aluminium collar still in place on the shaft of the track rod end which should have remained in the upright....
The collar was VERY well stuck onto the track rod end but after applying some heat, a ball joint splitter and various hitting sticks it came round to my way of thinking and let go.
So I fitted this back together with the new track rod end. Wobble still there - so I assume its the inner joint, however has anyone else had the tapered insert come out of the casting for the upright like this?
My new theory is that by being so well stuck to the track rod end shaft it has worn the casting slightly and the tapered insert that the track rod end fits into is is no longer a good tight fit in the upright.
A new upright assembly may well be in my future but it's annoying given that there's nothing else wrong with it, I am wondering about cutting a slit into the tapered insert so that when in place and tightened onto the track rod end it can expand slightly to create a good interference fit.
Before I take a hacksaw to the issue I thought I'd canvas any opinion on here. Apologies for the long explanation in an attempt to explain clearly as I didn't take any photos...
Thanks all!
There was a known issue where the steering wheel airbag can cause vibration thru the wheel. Might be worth looking into incase it's contributing to your issue (plus it's a quick / cheap fix).
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=80...
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=80...
JonnyCJ said:
If you replaced the disks make sure that the mounting screws don't protrude slightly. That will cause a wobble. Other thing to check is spinning the wheels and seeing if there's any graunching from the wheel bearing. Worth eliminating those as a precaution and easy to do/check.
Thanks very helpful!Agree on the brake disc retaining screws, I had to file them down when I fitted them to avoid exactly this issue. Wheel bearing seems fine and smooth etc, car has only done 40k miles.
The best way to find the loose part is to have somebody else wobble your wheel,
while you get underneath the safely lifted car and put your fingers onto the parts in question.
You should immedeately feel between which parts the play is located.
On a sidenote. a good mechanical workshop should be able to ream a tapered hole and/or machine a tapered bushing.
Probably a good idea to loctite (only!) the bushing in next time
while you get underneath the safely lifted car and put your fingers onto the parts in question.
You should immedeately feel between which parts the play is located.
On a sidenote. a good mechanical workshop should be able to ream a tapered hole and/or machine a tapered bushing.
Probably a good idea to loctite (only!) the bushing in next time
It could be an out-of-shape tyre also so I would try and borrow some front wheels from someone who does not have the issue. It could also still be balance related if the disc is unbalanced. Make sure the caliper is releasing fully too as piston bind can cause judder, even when not braking if a tight piston is holding a pad against the disc.
I think that very slight play in a track rod will only cause wheel "flutter" if something is running out of true or balance.
I think that very slight play in a track rod will only cause wheel "flutter" if something is running out of true or balance.
I got round to fitting the new track rod yesterday evening and below are some pics and a short description of my experience, I hope it's useful to others on here.
I started by removing the track rod end and see below pic with the tapered bushing I describe in my earlier post, I'm sure that this is supposed to stay in the casting of the upright but mine seems to prefer to live on the track rod end.
I then removed the boot exposing the inner track rod end on the steering rack, I forgot to take a photo of this but you do need a special tool to undo what is usually very tight. £10 tool from eBay, a long extension to get past the wing and a breaker bar did the trick very quickly.
See below photo of the old and new track rods as well as the inner track rod end removal tool. The old track rod was like a joystick and I could easily move the track rod in the ball joint by hand when off the car, the new one is significantly tighter and no way could I move it whilst in my hand. You can't buy an Aston part here they will only sell the entire rack with track rods, Aston bits has them made thankfully.
And this photo of the end of the steering rack where the track rod goes.
Fitted the new track rod which was in time honoured tradition a reversal of the steps to remove with the addition of new grease, boot and retaining clips, track rod end installed at the measured length of the old one so at least the alignment is somewhere fairly close.
Job done and the car is going for a full alignment later today ready for a track day on Friday. All traces of steering wheel wobble have gone and all is well with the world - very happy that I've fixed an annoying issue.
I should also mention that I run coil over suspension and H&R wheel spacers so I suppose even a small amount of wear was exaggerated in the steering wheel.
Thanks agains for all the suggestions etc on here.
I started by removing the track rod end and see below pic with the tapered bushing I describe in my earlier post, I'm sure that this is supposed to stay in the casting of the upright but mine seems to prefer to live on the track rod end.
I then removed the boot exposing the inner track rod end on the steering rack, I forgot to take a photo of this but you do need a special tool to undo what is usually very tight. £10 tool from eBay, a long extension to get past the wing and a breaker bar did the trick very quickly.
See below photo of the old and new track rods as well as the inner track rod end removal tool. The old track rod was like a joystick and I could easily move the track rod in the ball joint by hand when off the car, the new one is significantly tighter and no way could I move it whilst in my hand. You can't buy an Aston part here they will only sell the entire rack with track rods, Aston bits has them made thankfully.
And this photo of the end of the steering rack where the track rod goes.
Fitted the new track rod which was in time honoured tradition a reversal of the steps to remove with the addition of new grease, boot and retaining clips, track rod end installed at the measured length of the old one so at least the alignment is somewhere fairly close.
Job done and the car is going for a full alignment later today ready for a track day on Friday. All traces of steering wheel wobble have gone and all is well with the world - very happy that I've fixed an annoying issue.
I should also mention that I run coil over suspension and H&R wheel spacers so I suppose even a small amount of wear was exaggerated in the steering wheel.
Thanks agains for all the suggestions etc on here.
Tool details here - very generic but worked perfectly..
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tie-Rod-End-Tool-Multi-...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tie-Rod-End-Tool-Multi-...
ian448 said:
where did you get the track rod from ?
Aston Martin bits, they have them made specially as they are not available separately from the rack.www.astonmartinbits.com
what's the difference between the two variants shown on astonmartin bits?
This one seem more like the original you took off
https://www.astonmartinbits.com/models/5-V8-Vantag...
But it appears you have selected this one?
https://www.astonmartinbits.com/models/5-V8-Vantag...
This one seem more like the original you took off
https://www.astonmartinbits.com/models/5-V8-Vantag...
But it appears you have selected this one?
https://www.astonmartinbits.com/models/5-V8-Vantag...
I reckon this is a parts bin item. Out of curiosity and because I solved the track rod end solution I thought I'd see what the cost of a Jaguar S Type track rod is as there's commonality between the cars.
https://www.carparts4less.co.uk/p/lemforder-inner-...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-x-Moog-Inner-Axle-Tra...
Not saying they're the same by any means, however, a track rod is a track rod. There's very few measurements that you need to get right and if you can find a generic one that's a bit too long it's not beyond the wit of man to shorten it slightly.
If you have the old track rod still, would you mind popping up all the dimensions. Ideally thread sizes, length of thread etc etc.
I'm happy to do it, but don't have a track rod handy...
https://www.carparts4less.co.uk/p/lemforder-inner-...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-x-Moog-Inner-Axle-Tra...
Not saying they're the same by any means, however, a track rod is a track rod. There's very few measurements that you need to get right and if you can find a generic one that's a bit too long it's not beyond the wit of man to shorten it slightly.
If you have the old track rod still, would you mind popping up all the dimensions. Ideally thread sizes, length of thread etc etc.
I'm happy to do it, but don't have a track rod handy...
Edited by JonnyCJ on Wednesday 14th October 13:18
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