8 replies to this topic

[Stevie W]

Hi All,

After spending a great deal of time replacing perished dust seals on all four suspension arms that had done zero miles, I've reassembled the offside front, only to find the inner ball joint on the steering rack has some play in it.
It has done less than 500 miles. It seems some spares lately are very poor quality!
Can the inner ball joints be stripped down and re-shimmed as I don't fancy pulling the rack out to replace it with another poor quality reconditioned one!

Cheers in advance, Steve.

[Fast Ivan]

Sounds like you mean the track rod ends? They can't be reshimmed, they're a sealed unit, but they are very straightforward to replace. Ball joint splitter to remove it from the steering arm and they are screwed on to the steering rack. Mark the locking but position and loosen then unscrew the tre. May need some mole grips.

[nicklouse]

to be honest. I would just change the rack to a better quality one.

[Spider]

The Cups are threaded with a lock nut set up for adjusting. Back the lock nut off and you can wind the cup on further. Take it up until the end locks up, then back the cup off about 1/8 of a turn. Then have a feel right through the full movement of the arm, it must be smooth and not catch / grab anywhere, if it does, then the ball is worn and a replacement really is the only option.

[Stevie W]

Cheers Guys,

I'll try Mokes suggestion first since the rack isn't very old.

Cheers, Steve.

[nicklouse]

Still needs the rack out. Really.

[peter-b]

Adjust as Spider said but if its at all a bit notchy the replace it. It was only a couple of weeks ago that a work college of mine fitted a so called record rack (not in a mini) and while test driving it the ball snapped off on lhs, sending them in trees. Cracked and bruised ribs and a written of Commodore later, a lesson learned the hard/expensive way. (No insurance)

[Spider]

That would be painful having a snapped ball,,,,,, I recon I'd go off in to the trees too,,,,,

Edited by Moke Spider, 14 October 2015 - 02:18 AM.

[Stevie W]

Thanks for all the replies guys and yes it just aint worth taking the risk.
I got underneath the Mini on Sunday and removed the track rod end which was ok.
The perished rack boot then came off and was binned. The inner ball joint was absolutely fine but the rack didn't appear to have much grease put into it at assembly.
I packed the rack teeth and tube with grease and ran the rack from right to left and back again a few times then repacked. The rack was then fine and the play I initially could feel was due to a slight cleaence between the rack and rack tube, where there was very little grease.

So I'll see how it goes, there seemed no wear at all from what I could see.

Cheers, Steve.