?Bend track rod and end?

This site contains affiliate links for which LandyZone may be compensated if you make a purchase.
G

Greenbean

New Member
Posts
45
Disco 1998 Tdi auto: I had the track rod end replaced in December and to me it now looks bent, also the track rod itself looks bent near the dubious rusty bit. I took it to my garage today (who fitted the new end) and they said there is nothing wrong with it and it is normal. The Disco also pulls to the left slightly unless I push the steering wheel further over to the right, and the steering wheel is off centre tilted to the right (before I had the rod end replaced, and the tracking done, it was off centre to the left). Also I think the passenger side front wheel points slightly outwards when parked straight. Now my instinct tells me all this isn't right, can someone look at my photos and tell me what you think?? Thanks
 

Attachments

  • IMG_2389 (500x375).jpg
    IMG_2389 (500x375).jpg
    35.6 KB · Views: 312
  • IMG_2396 (500x375).jpg
    IMG_2396 (500x375).jpg
    39.9 KB · Views: 290
  • IMG_2393 (500x375).jpg
    IMG_2393 (500x375).jpg
    31.8 KB · Views: 263
  • IMG_2398 (500x375).jpg
    IMG_2398 (500x375).jpg
    36.9 KB · Views: 246
  • IMG_2387 (500x375).jpg
    IMG_2387 (500x375).jpg
    36.3 KB · Views: 319
Last edited:
This is another photo taken by positioning the camera directly underneath the track rod. I hope that bend in the rear rod is normal!!
 

Attachments

  • IMG_2405 (500x375).jpg
    IMG_2405 (500x375).jpg
    41.4 KB · Views: 330
Hi
If you are talking about the rod that is attached to the Steering box arm and the passenger side front wheel, it is not the Track Rod it is actually the Drag Link. If this is bent it will change the position of the steering wheel. If in doubt take it off and look along it and if bent get a new one ASAP as your tyres will wear very quickly. Regards Jonathan
 
jonathanp said:
Hi
If you are talking about the rod that is attached to the Steering box arm and the passenger side front wheel, it is not the Track Rod it is actually the Drag Link. If this is bent it will change the position of the steering wheel. If in doubt take it off and look along it and if bent get a new one ASAP as your tyres will wear very quickly. Regards Jonathan
Click to expand...

Thanks all for your replies.

Jonathanp: Is the bar behind the drag link the track rod then, and if so is the huge bend you can see in it on the pic taken from underneath, normal? Thanks

I'm going back to the garage to insist on a new drag link as I can definitely see it has a slight bend and the end is definitely bent. Do you think I should buy a new drag link set myself and take it to a garage to be fitted and if so where is the best place to buy it? I live near Manchester, or I could order it online if anyone knows any good sites for Disco parts. Also does anyone know how long it should take to fit and what the labour charges are likely to be - don't want to get ripped off. Once again thanks.
 
bar behind is panhard rod it has bend to miss diff casing it holds axle laterally,track rod is on rear of axle ,drag link is adjustablew to put wheels straight when steering box is in central position
 
id say its been warmed up to do tracking as they seize up solid and somebody has tried twisting it to adjust the tracking, just seems odd that it has gone rusty at the end which is more than likely because when they warmed it up it burnt the paint off.
 
jamesmartin said:
bar behind is panhard rod it has bend to miss diff casing it holds axle laterally,track rod is on rear of axle ,drag link is adjustablew to put wheels straight when steering box is in central position
Click to expand...

I would say it looks like a lot of heat has been applied to the drag link to free the joint off maybe weaking it as it lookes very dry in the one spot i might be wrong hear if i am mr martin will soon correct for me but even it it was a tiny bit bent im not sure it would cause you to pull either way yes your wheel would not be in the centre but it wouldnt affect the track ?
 
disco2shaun said:
id say its been warmed up to do tracking as they seize up solid and somebody has tried twisting it to adjust the tracking, just seems odd that it has gone rusty at the end which is more than likely because when they warmed it up it burnt the paint off.
Click to expand...

Thanks Shaun, it's so annoying, I just want it replacing and aligning correctly, not tweaking and bodging.
 
dyte said:
I would say it looks like a lot of heat has been applied to the drag link to free the joint off maybe weaking it as it lookes very dry in the one spot i might be wrong hear if i am mr martin will soon correct for me but even it it was a tiny bit bent im not sure it would cause you to pull either way yes your wheel would not be in the centre but it wouldnt affect the track ?
Click to expand...

Thanks Dyte and James: Could a bent track rod, rather than drag link cause the passenger side front wheel to be slightly sticking out or could it be something more complicated?
 
a lot of tyre fitting/tracking places dont know how to adjust wheel alignment/tracking on landrovers, drag link shouldnt be touched to align road wheels, the track rod at back of axle is to adjust road wheel alignment (tracking) and drag link is to adjust and centralise steering box and steering wheel. way i do it is put steering wheel in position where landy drives straight ahead and dosnt pull to one side. Now check and adjust tracking using track rod and once correct settings are reached use drag link to adjust and centralise steering wheel. a lot of places clamp steering wheel in straight ahead position which works on normal cars then adjust tracking using track rod and drag link which throws everything out of alignment
 
Greenbean said:
Thanks Dyte and James: Could a bent track rod, rather than drag link cause the passenger side front wheel to be slightly sticking out or could it be something more complicated?
Click to expand...

Your track rod is on the other side of the axle you say tracking has been done it sounds like its not been done correctly,if it is noticable by eye get it to someone who knows what thier doing other factors can cause pulling ie. brakes ,tyre pressure
 
drag link shouldnt be used to align steering wheel just central box and road wheels as steering box has center tight spot with increasing freeplay either side of this ,steering wheel should be aligned after at the wheel or at ujs on steering linkage to box,although you may not notice too much if a little out
 
dyte said:
Your track rod is on the other side of the axle you say tracking has been done it sounds like its not been done correctly,if it is noticable by eye get it to someone who knows what thier doing other factors can cause pulling ie. brakes ,tyre pressure
Click to expand...

Im to slow at typing !!
 
disco2shaun said:
a lot of tyre fitting/tracking places dont know how to adjust wheel alignment/tracking on landrovers, drag link shouldnt be touched to align road wheels, the track rod at back of axle is to adjust road wheel alignment (tracking) and drag link is to adjust and centralise steering box and steering wheel. way i do it is put steering wheel in position where landy drives straight ahead and dosnt pull to one side. Now check and adjust tracking using track rod and once correct settings are reached use drag link to adjust and centralise steering wheel. a lot of places clamp steering wheel in straight ahead position which works on normal cars then adjust tracking using track rod and drag link which throws everything out of alignment
Click to expand...

Thanks again Shaun, I just wish I could find someone who knows what they are doing regarding Disco tracking/steering etc, in my area, I had the tracking done after the replacement drag link end was fitted but steering wheel was then tilted to the right (previously the left)! I also have intermittent ABS problems i.e. activating when it shouldn't and ABS light intermittently staying on. I'm wondering if the steering rods and wheel alignment problems are contributing to ABS problems as well.
 
so much heat has been applied to replace the ball joint is has softened the bar. i wouldnt min betting that the steering is getting slowly worse and the bar could bend a whole lot more. I would there fore take it back to the garage that carried out the work and state that in using so much heat they have weakened the bar and made the vehicle now unsafe.
Try threatening with trading standards. any steering component that is not as should be is dangerous, none of the steering arms should be bent, and even if they claim the bar was bent before they should not have changed an end on it and let you drive away like that
 
Greenbean said:
Thanks again Shaun, I just wish I could find someone who knows what they are doing regarding Disco tracking/steering etc, in my area, I had the tracking done after the replacement drag link end was fitted but steering wheel was then tilted to the right (previously the left)! I also have intermittent ABS problems i.e. activating when it shouldn't and ABS light intermittently staying on. I'm wondering if the steering rods and wheel alignment problems are contributing to ABS problems as well.
Click to expand...

If in doubt find a rural garage with lots of landys outside they usally have a clue they shouldnt have touched the tracking after fitting drag link joint
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Spong
Disco 2 Track rod end nuts
2
Replies
25
Views
1K
Spong
Spong
K
Disco 2 driver side track rod ball joint part number and replacement
Replies
16
Views
1K
frostythor
frostythor
andrewfisher
Frelander 2 - play in Inner Tie Rod (nearside)
Replies
4
Views
962
andrewfisher
andrewfisher
W
Tie bar and cross rod mounting bracket
Replies
8
Views
475
Workshopsp
W
tyregeezer
Tie rod repair kit D3
Replies
4
Views
699
tyregeezer
tyregeezer
Back
Top