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Author: Subject: Track Rods / Shortening Rack
Guinness

posted on 28/6/05 at 09:21 PM Reply With Quote
Track Rods / Shortening Rack

I have a narrowed Sierra rack in my Indy. I didn't have time to take the track rod ends off before it went to MK to get modified.

When I did try to get them off they were rusted on solid and no amount of leverage / penetrating oil / heat was going to shift them.

So out came the angle grinder!!

Anyway I've accidently cut into the threads on my passenger side track rod. Through I can still get the track rod ends on and off I'm worried this will be a weak spot in the steering and want to replace them.

Chris_R has very kindly donated a spare Sierra rack. Question is how do you get the track rods off the rack? My manual doesn't show this bit?

I can see a collar on the end of the rack which houses the joint. Does it unscrew?

Cheers Mike

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tks

posted on 28/6/05 at 09:36 PM Reply With Quote
uhh

dunno quet good what you say,

but i guess its just adjusting but not stopping.

to adjust the steering you turn arround one rod..

if you keep turning i guess they come out..

Tks





The above comments are always meant to be from the above persons perspective.

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mookaloid

posted on 28/6/05 at 10:02 PM Reply With Quote
It unscrews. Use some stillsons on it (pipewrench) it may have a staked bit which you need to re do afterwards.

Cheers

Mark

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Guinness

posted on 28/6/05 at 10:09 PM Reply With Quote
Thanks

One last thing before I get a wrench on it in the morning, anyone know if they are normal thread or reversed?

Cheers

Mike

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mookaloid

posted on 28/6/05 at 10:13 PM Reply With Quote
normal


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jolson

posted on 28/6/05 at 10:24 PM Reply With Quote
I've got 2 here.

The one that I shortened had an alloy body and the ends were staked in place. You can see the notch in the ball holder on the track rod end.

The one that I'm going to shorten (long story, don't ask) has a steel body and the ends are not staked. They are held in place by sheer bloodymindedness, which is exactly what you have to use to unscrew them. The threads are clean inside; no sign of loctite or other tomfoolery.

The thread where the track rods screw into the rack is M14 x 1.5 (not the same as the track rod ends screwing onto the track rods, which are M14 x 2)





Cheers

John

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MikeRJ

posted on 29/6/05 at 08:04 AM Reply With Quote
Note that many racks have the track rods secured by a metal pin that is driven into a hole drilled through the end of the rack into the track rod threaded section. They can be very hard to see, but usualy you can make out a small circle. This has to be drilled out to replace the track rods, and a new hole drilled and pinned.
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Dane

posted on 2/7/05 at 03:27 PM Reply With Quote
The Sierra track rods are removed and replaced in the following way:
1. Move the rack fully to the left (RH drive cars) so the rack's 'teeth' are exposed.
2. Secure the rack (NOT the housing!) in a vice with soft jaws clamping on the rack's 'teeth'.
3. Unscrew the rods (they have normal RH threads) using a pipe wrench.
4. Replacement track rods have machined flats. Torque to 70-100Nm.

If this is unclear then I recommend that you check how to replace the track rods in the Haynes manual. The instructions are pretty clear.

IMPORTANT! Do NOT use parts which have been damaged in any way (e.g. marks from angle grinder, pipe wrench). Ignoring this will lead to component failure sooner or later.

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