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Removing steering rack, Help Please

karlak - 7/6/11 at 05:24 PM

Possibly stupid question time ....

Bear in mind I didn't build or have never built a car. I am removing the steering rack and have fallen at the first hurdle really.

I removed the Nut from the steering rod to hub (?) and assumed that the remainder would just "tap" through the hole. I have gently persuaded it with a rubber maller, but it seems Solid. Am i doing something wrong or missed something ?

picture below.

steering rack

blakep82 - 7/6/11 at 05:31 PM

quite normal.
boil a kettle, pour the hot water over it, whack it with a hammer (assuming you're replacing it?) or if you plan to keep it, put the nut back on loosely so you hit the nut with the hammer,rather than the threads on the stud

Macbeast - 7/6/11 at 05:34 PM

They are usually difficult to free off because they are a taper contact. One way is to hammer the sides of the joint with a heavy lump of metal on the other side to shock them free. Otherwide, you can buy joint-splitters ( wedges) from Halfords

big_wasa - 7/6/11 at 05:35 PM

Or just get the proper tool for the job, a ball joint spliter.

David Jenkins - 7/6/11 at 05:36 PM

A ball joint splitter is cheap enough, and will get the joint apart in a minute... doesn't half pop out with a bang though, followed by a clatter as the splitter falls on the floor!

karlak - 7/6/11 at 05:39 PM

Cheers guys - Brilliantly helpful as usual

blakep82 - 7/6/11 at 05:52 PM

ball joint splitters are alright, but the wedge type has always resulted in the ball joint getting damaged for me, boiling water and a clout is what i've always ended up using

stevegough - 7/6/11 at 06:04 PM

DRAPER 13914 BALL JOINT SEPARATOR SPLITTER 19MM CAP | eBay UK

mookaloid - 7/6/11 at 06:50 PM

quote:
Originally posted by stevegough
DRAPER 13914 BALL JOINT SEPARATOR SPLITTER 19MM CAP | eBay UK

You'll still need boiling water using one of those usually.

I haven't needed one for years - i just give the side of the steering arm a good whack and it always comes apart

britishtrident - 7/6/11 at 06:54 PM

Two hammer method is difficult in this case because of lack of space.

A balljoint seporator of any kind will knacker the rubber sealing gaitors whats needed is a a track rod end splitter of the correct size but track rod ends are cheap so I would just whack them out with a wedge ball joint splitter and change the track rod ends.

The other way is to unscrew the track rod from the track rod.

britishtrident - 7/6/11 at 07:10 PM

Sealey Track Rod End Splitter

karlak - 7/6/11 at 07:37 PM

cheers guys,

I guess this will get it done then ?

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_173425_langId_-1_categoryId_165727

David Jenkins - 7/6/11 at 09:41 PM

I have the type that stevegough showed above - it works well, and doesn't damage the ball-joint rubber cover.

hubby - 8/6/11 at 09:49 AM

hit with a hammer/club hammer it never fails even on land rovers which are twice the size

907 - 8/6/11 at 12:38 PM

I was always told it's "where you hit it" that's important. ( X marks the spot )

The clout momentarily springs the hole out of round and the TRE just drops out.

When I bought my rack the 13 year old scrappy's daughter took it off the car.

Just two hits; one each side.

Cheers
Paul G

removing a track rod end

karlak - 8/6/11 at 02:38 PM

Cheers guys, Sorted now.

Combination of a bit of WD40 and a BIGGER hammer

scudderfish - 8/6/11 at 02:46 PM

quote:
Originally posted by karlak
Combination of a bit of WD40 and a BIGGER hammer

A solution to many problems.