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Another Beginner Question: is this a tie rod end?!

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Re: Another Beginner Question: is this a tie rod e

DrEntropy said:
That'll work perfectly! If you were changing the ball joints it would be better to use the center-bottom of the tapered joint, where it is attached by a nut as there can be some differences in the shoulder lengths of joints (for future reference /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif ).
Click to expand...

The nuts came off easily. In fact I was expecting a real Charles Atlas moment, and so heaved into the spanner, the nut came loose and I skinned my thumb on the tie-rod!

Here is the passenger side tie-rod, after the tie-rod end swung away from it:
356354859_06b29a00bd.jpg


On the driver side, after removing the gaiter (which had a gaping hole in it):
356354922_81ca2243c6.jpg


Tomorrow I will clean up a bit, fit the new gaiters and then go out to buy some 90W oil to refill the rack with.
 
Re: Another Beginner Question: is this a tie rod e

Boy, now I know why I read all of these posts...enlightening!
Cheers, david.
 
Re: Another Beginner Question: is this a tie rod e

Julian - Thanks for posting these pics. This has been one of those "black box" things for me. Your plunging right in like this helps us all.

R.
 
Re: Another Beginner Question: is this a tie rod e

Apply a VERY thin coat of anti-seize to the threads on reassembly. A dollop of the stuff, spread around with a paper towel... YOU may be the one to need to do this again. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif
 
Re: Another Beginner Question: is this a tie rod e

This looks like a tech tip I should put on my web site!
 
Re: Another Beginner Question: is this a tie rod e

Excellent idea Tony, this seems to keep comming up.
 
Re: Another Beginner Question: is this a tie rod e

DrEntropy said:
YOU may be the one to need to do this again. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif
Click to expand...
I thank you every day for that tip, because numerous times, it HAS been me. I just hope the stuff still works in another 37 years.
 
Re: Another Beginner Question: is this a tie rod e

It has a half-life akin to plutonium. It'll be there. Mebbe a bit less 'liquid' but there none-the-less. Another good compound is Molykote-G. Graphite in a pasty suspension.
 
Re: Another Beginner Question: is this a tie rod e

But, if you use MolyKote, wear some rubber gloves. I think the only thing that removes that stuff from skin is time.
Jeff
 
Re: Another Beginner Question: is this a tie rod e

After unscrewing the tie-rods, I cut away the old gaiters, cleaned up the rack (I could move it from side to side under the car just by hand, no need to get up and use the steering wheel).

Then I fitted the new gaiters. Getting the large end of each gaiter over the lip was tricky. I tightened the large gaiter clamps, but left the small ones loose, since I knew that I'd have to rotate the tie-rod to screw it back into the tie-rod end.

Yesterday, for the measurement, I had used a small piece of metal plate which I pushed one side of against the edge of the nut, and scribed a mark on the tie-rod at the other side. So I didn't need to measure the distance "A" to "B" ... I just placed the metal plate against the scribed mark, and screwed the nut on the tie-rod so that it just came to rest at the other side of the plate.

Then I rotated the tie-rods into the tie-rod ends, and screwed them in as far as the nuts. I tightened the nuts well, and re-checked the distance "A" to "B".

I didn't fancy trying to squirt in 90W gear oil via the small end of the gaiter: it seemed to me that it would probably go everywhere, and might even ruin the seal. So I tightened the small gaiter clamps: I wasn't too happy with the size (this was a kit from Moss), they didn't seem to tighten up enough, so I'll need to check those for leaks after some use.

I then removed the damper cover so I could use a long funnel and pour the 90W oil in that way:

357595656_37e09c6e7a.jpg


Here's the damper and cover, and shim pieces (gaskets?):

357596021_23d58c4931.jpg


Finally, here's a view of the finished job.

357595750_527254228d.jpg
 
Re: Another Beginner Question: is this a tie rod e

Julian, don't you just love it when a plan finally comes together?
Nice job!
Jeff
 
Re: Another Beginner Question: is this a tie rod e

Bugeye58 said:
Julian, don't you just love it when a plan finally comes together?
Nice job!
Jeff
Click to expand...

Yes! Thanks Jeff!
 
Re: Another Beginner Question: is this a tie rod e

Good job, nice work.
 
Re: Another Beginner Question: is this a tie rod e

Yea...nice job...and great pictures...but please tell me about your camera...I want one that takes pics like that!

Bruce
 
Re: Another Beginner Question: is this a tie rod e

Bruce74B said:
Yea...nice job...and great pictures...but please tell me about your camera...I want one that takes pics like that!

Bruce
Click to expand...

Hi Bruce,

The camera is nothing special: a Canon Powershot A85. These pics are are taken on the "Portrait" setting.
 
Re: Another Beginner Question: is this a tie rod e

Well done! Now your steering gear should be good for years of motoring!
 
Re: Another Beginner Question: is this a tie rod e

Julian, thanks for going through this for the rest of us. I've got 2 new boots to put into the Tunebug, and this thread is now saved for reference.
 
Re: Another Beginner Question: is this a tie rod e

Thanks Julian for posting those pics and the great description of the methods by everyone. I have to do this soon and will proceed as you have all described.

Great stuff!

Tim
 
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