vibrating_Cake Posted September 7, 2009 Report Posted September 7, 2009 how do i check if my track rod ends are worn??? vague steering, vibration under heavy breaking (not disks!!) bla di bla, steering rack got replaced 18month ago so shouldnt be that!!! but i dont know if they replaced the Track rod ends....... (they took 8 hours doing it so they clearly didnt know what they were doing!)
escort21 Posted September 7, 2009 Report Posted September 7, 2009 Jack up front end and wobble the wheel...if theres play you can see where its knackered
baz105e Posted September 7, 2009 Report Posted September 7, 2009 jack up the car and wobble the wheel 'side to side' to check for track rod end and 'up and down' to check the wheel bearings (by side to side and up and down i mean put one hand on either side of the outer side of the wheel/tyre and push as if trying to rock the steering. if the tre is gone then you will feel a knock or get someone to look at the track rod end and you can see the play. maximum play is 2mm/80thou)
vibrating_Cake Posted September 8, 2009 Author Report Posted September 8, 2009 kk had car up on jacks today rocking the wheel from side to side, theres slight play in the bearing, although this feels normal, but when i rock the steering from side to side theres noticeable play, so, i jammed the stoplock up against the door to lock the steering wheel in place (as this was rocking on the steering lock) and repeated, still rocked from side to side, with a slight clunk at the end of each pull.... looking at the track rod end this is solid and isnt moving.... what else could it be..... i surely hope its not the rack! its only 18month old =(
Andrade Posted September 8, 2009 Report Posted September 8, 2009 kk had car up on jacks today rocking the wheel from side to side, theres slight play in the bearing, although this feels normal, but when i rock the steering from side to side theres noticeable play, so, i jammed the stoplock up against the door to lock the steering wheel in place (as this was rocking on the steering lock) and repeated, still rocked from side to side, with a slight clunk at the end of each pull.... looking at the track rod end this is solid and isnt moving.... what else could it be..... i surely hope its not the rack! its only 18month old =( heh i dont think there is much else... look at the bellows when you are moving the wheels. thats where you can notice if its play from the rack
vibrating_Cake Posted September 8, 2009 Author Report Posted September 8, 2009 well the bar that goes into the rack moves forwards n backwards and the steering wheel doesnt move... grrr. gonna have to get ANOTHER new rack!
Andrade Posted September 8, 2009 Report Posted September 8, 2009 yeah i know what you mean, i have to do that too and seriously don't feel like. but the car is becoming undriveable so i guess i will have to do it too. it sucks, even more since its just an everyday car. its hard to come by racks for the viva and the only guy who i know refurbishes them is a total rip off
baz105e Posted September 8, 2009 Report Posted September 8, 2009 on the inner end of the track rod where it meets the rack im pretty sure there is a nut on the inside too, pull back the gaiter and you'll see if the play is in there somewhere (maybee the nut is loose or maybee the track rod inner ball joint worn)
RossMK2 Posted September 8, 2009 Report Posted September 8, 2009 college that i go to 1 day a week say take wheel off put one hand on bottom of TRE ball joint put other on top of ball joint hold bottom hand still and try and move top hand if there excess play it's worn
vibrating_Cake Posted September 8, 2009 Author Report Posted September 8, 2009 on the inner end of the track rod where it meets the rack im pretty sure there is a nut on the inside too, pull back the gaiter and you'll see if the play is in there somewhere (maybee the nut is loose or maybee the track rod inner ball joint worn) ooh i didnt know about that one!! i shal have a look for that tomorrow! does feel to be "knocking" from that kind of area! howd u get the gaiter off without ripping it?
RossMK2 Posted September 8, 2009 Report Posted September 8, 2009 give the TRE a tap with a mallet then unbolt it remove gaitor bolt back up then do the test. don't use a ball joint spliter else the gaitor will be damaged hope this helps
vibrating_Cake Posted September 8, 2009 Author Report Posted September 8, 2009 excess play in the track rod end, just unbolt it from the strut and give it a go? and i mean the inner gaitor, as in the zigzag thing on the end of the rack where the steering arm goes in and out... also... stranger, when the brakes get hot... it gets worse (sounds to me like track rod end... i shall update tomorrow with my findings, god i hope it is though, cant afford a new rack!
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