Steering rack gaiters

[ndevans]

Got to replace the steering rack gaiters. O/s is ok, n/s is shot, I figure I might as well do both, as I have two spares.
Is it ok to use a cable tie to secure the inner end of the gaiter on the rack? A jubilee clip is tricky, given that it's not very accessible!
Cheers N

[neilmorey]

I bought Bailcast steering rack gaiters and their came with cables ties so you should be fine. Getting the old metal clip off was a pain.

[ndevans]

I guess I could also use metal earthing ties?

On a related note, can the nyloc nut be reused, or should I buy new?

Cheers N

[philthehill]

Nylock nuts should only be used once.

[ndevans]

Ok, have snookered myself now! Have got the n/s gaiter on, and jubilee clips in place, after an hour of swearing and rust falling in my eyes.
I have now got the track rod end on and in the steering arm in the kingpin, and the nyloc nut on, but the ball joint in the track rod end is spinning, and I can't either do up or undo the nut! I've tried a few sharp taps with a hammer to seat the taper, but it still turns. Any suggestions?

(I'm temporarily reusing the old nyloc nut to keep the car mobile, will order two new nyloc nuts when it's all back together).

Cheers N

[philthehill]

Put a lever under the body work and over the track rod and press down on the lever. That will hold it into the female taper of the steering arm.

[ndevans]

Top tip, that works well, thanks! Doing the o/s tomorrow, I'll tap the tre in to engage the taper, then use a normal nut to tighten it up before I fit the nyloc.
cheers N

[ndevans]

Ok, another cry for help!

I can't free the taper in the tre from the steering arm. Tried plus gas, tried clouting with a large hammer both on the arm and on a nut screwed on the thread, all to no avail. It's a bit noisy as well, and isn't going down well with the neighbours at 10pm!
I'd rather not resort to heat as that will ruin the track rod ball joint cover, and I'd rather not cut it off if avoidable.

Cheers N

[les]

You need a ball join separator, not a good idea to bash things with hammers, especially if the area is unsupported.

[ndevans]

Like a forked wedge? Won't that ruin the track rod end?

[pgp001]

Have you tried the old trick of using two hammers.

Use one behind the eye of the arm to act as an anvil, and hit the opposite side with the other hammer, this shocks the eye open slightly and the taper should pop out.

Phil P

[ndevans]

No, I haven't tried that, though I have tried tapping the eye round the circumference. Bit late now, the neighbours won't thank me, so I'll try it in the morning.
Cheers N

[les]

Like a forked wedge? Won't that ruin the track rod end?

No, one of these.

9F7E3219-78C6-409D-8228-F59AA2DF77CD.png (944.72 KiB) Viewed 1555 times

[ndevans]

Ah, no, not got one of those. Ok, I know where I can get one tomorrow lunchtime.

[jaekl]

I place a jack under the threaded end and take some weight of the car which now gives a solid base, so a wack on the steering arm pops it loose after a couple of hits.

[pgp001]

Or this type works quite well.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ball-Joint-S ... SwLN5WkSeR

Phil

[ndevans]

I place a jack under the threaded end and take some weight of the car which now gives a solid base, so a wack on the steering arm pops it loose after a couple of hits.

Tried that. After about 3 or 4 blows, the jack slipped!

[ndevans]

Like a forked wedge? Won't that ruin the track rod end?

No, one of these.
9F7E3219-78C6-409D-8228-F59AA2DF77CD.png

Got one of these today, Draper version. Had the taper separated in 2 min, with a crack that sounded like a gunshot! All back together now, with a new gaiter, just the wheel to put back on.
Edit:- I fitted new Nyloc nuts, and managed, after some fiddling, to get jubilee clips on the inner end of both gaiters.
Cheers N