19 replies to this topic

[Ro8bieg]

How do i get my old trackrod end off?

Robbie

[cooper1400]

do you mean get it off the hub, or get it off the steering rack?

[Ro8bieg]

off the steering rack

Robbie

[minipac]

How do i get my old trackrod end off?

Robbie

two pairs of good mole grips and a blow torch will do it

[Ro8bieg]

Eh? i dont understand what you do to get it off tho

[blacktulip]

get some pentration fluid, give it a good soak. wait for a while. then try again. on the genuine track rod ends there is usually a flat where you can get a spanner on. if not, get some decent mole grips on it.

if no luck try getting some heat on it.

[blacktulip]

Eh? i dont understand what you do to get it off tho

you have to break the lock nut then it should unscrew off.

[lrostoke]

off as in remove the trackrod from the hub ?? or of as in unscrew it off the end of the steering rack ??

If off the hub, then a balljoint splitter is the way to go ideally..If you've not got one then where the shaft of the track rod goes into the steering arm, hit the steering arm on the side next to where the shaft goes in the hole is tapered, the shock of hitting it can slightly squeeze it shocking the tapered shaft out

If on the rack, I think the threads may be left and right handed, so you may have to turn as if tightening to undo on one side.

[HARBER07]

What i did was use a 4" grinder and cut along the track rod end. It should unscrew but if it doesnt Squirt some WD in the cut.
Just remember to mark where the rod goes back to with tape and dont cut too deep!

[icklemini]

lordy

track rod end removal is pretty straight forward...

crack it out of the hub (using a ball joint splitter) - but leave it 'pushed into the hole' to hold it in place and stop it turning...

loosen the locknut on the track rod (having the track rod end still in the hub means that it cant turn!!)

then unscrew the track rod end...

no need for grinders, funny left hand threads, or any such witchcraft.. i dont like to use blowtorches near suspension components either...


ta,
Dave

Edited by icklemini, 24 February 2008 - 07:08 PM.

[midridge2]

quick easy answer. take it to some one who knows and stop pretending to be a mechanic. if you dont know how to do these easy jobs dont repair your car as you will make it a danger to you and other road users.

[GreaseMonkey]

i picked up a helpful hint, if you mark the thread at the end of the track rod end before you take it you you will know how much to wind in the new one

[Ro8bieg]

quick easy answer. take it to some one who knows and stop pretending to be a mechanic. if you dont know how to do these easy jobs dont repair your car as you will make it a danger to you and other road users.

How do you figure that one out!
I tried to undo it before I posted this but its jammed on so i thought I might be doing it wrong! U can only learn from ur mistakes and anyway isn't this what this forum is for?? Gettin help??
Im young and learning so do you not think a bit of encouragement would be nice? This annoys me so much!

Thanks for everyone who helped



Robbie

[liam_italian]

As you dad always tells me, if at first you dont succeed, try, try again!

Ro8bieg my good friend, you might not be a mechanic but im sure many here will agree, you've come to the right place to learn about it.

[bamby]

quick easy answer. take it to some one who knows and stop pretending to be a mechanic. if you dont know how to do these easy jobs dont repair your car as you will make it a danger to you and other road users.

well thats a good way of trying to help ! i think if your going to make comments like that then its not worth making them to be honest. Ive had a go at trying to help get the track rod end off and i couldn't do it either. so we "youngens" who are coming into the mini family don't need these kind of comments to help us get on our way with trying to fix our cars ourselves! i admit that i have taken my mini to get fixed by someone when im not confident enough to do the job myself. i admire Robbie for his commitment to his project as a lot of it has been him on his own, i know i wouldn't like to do it on my own with my mini!

still we all have to learn somewhere i hope you have a better day tomorrow and try not to make daft comments that quite frankly have nothing to do with the inital question asked. if Robbie had asked " best garage to take mini , to have track rod ends done" then maybe your comment may have been valid.