Track Rod Ends are balls

  1. #1
    I'm probably not going to get anywhere here, but I thought I might as well ask, shy bairns and all that.

    I'm in the middle of fitting some lowering springs to the front struts on my saxo. I say in the middle, because while the drivers side is done, the passenger side isn't, so it's sitting half cocked. Because I assumed it would be a ballache not having been touched for ages, I pre-emptively bought new track rod ends and drop links, so that if I ended up breaking them during removal or they were worn, I could fit shiny new jobs.

    Can I bollocks get the passenger side track rod end loose. The nut turns, but it's just turning the thread and ball joint in the track rod end. Because I'm trying to remove and it's already tight, there's not enough room for me to get maul grips in and clamp it. Because it's a cheap shitty track rod end, there's no flat edges under the boot to get a spanner on, or a torx or anything in the thread underneath. I've tried a blow torch on it, I've tried using a bar to get some pressure on it, but neither have worked.

    Any other ideas before I burn it? I would just lash it round to a garage and ask them to whack a windy gun on it, but these are the final stages of my MOT prep, and it currently doesn't have one, and is thus not road legal.

    Argh, FML etc. I've used about 19 cans of WD 40 on it as well.
  2. #2
    I use a metal twist clamp to hold the track rod to the strut to stop it spinning.

    I've even used a scissor jack to press the track rod down..

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  3. #3
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by saxova View Post
    I use a metal twist clamp to hold the track rod to the strut to stop it spinning.

    I've even used a scissor jack to press the track rod down..

    Oooooh, I like your style.

    I've just thought, I haz a grinder as well, I may even just cut the bugger off yet. I should have thought of that, would have saved ages!
  4. #4
    if you've got a new one already, just cut it off with the grinder. 2 minute job, and you'll be thankful you did.

    You'll even find it rewarding now to get payback on it
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  5. #5
    I tend to loosen the track rod end from the track rod. Then just grind it off.
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