Track rod ends

[Trailpug]

Can you just replace the rubber bit or do you have to replace the whole bit?
Also do you need to do both??

 

[Trewey]

a bit of both

 

[Trailpug]

Lost me!

 

[jamesmartin]

you can replace gaiter ,but often joint is poor too if gaiter is split

 

[Boris113]

The rubber bit only holds the grease in, chances are if it's damaged the crap will have already go in and done the damage. A quick wobble will show whether it needs changing.

I've not seen the rubber bit for sale seperatley, but TREs are only a few quid each. Better still get the ones with grease nipples on, mine always seem to last longer if greased regularly.

edit: clearly i type too slowly, they beat me to it!

 

[Trewey]

Lost me!

Wooooossssshhhhhhhh!!!!!!!

 

[mikescuba]

I replaced both of mine about thirty thousand miles ago. I got the cheapest ones from Paddock they were only a couple of pound each and they are still in great shape. Mine is used regularly on bumpy green lanes. My thinking about changing both was whilst your under there with your hands dirty and having to reset the steering traction might as well do both for the sake of a couple of pounds.

 

[Trailpug]

can you change them in situ or do you have to take the whole arm of like in busters link?

 

[captain skellon]

hi. i'd do both at once as they are not expensive and can be a pain if they were not copper slipped in last time.
take the whole rod out, measure accurately the length from one end to the other, undo the clamps and open up the bar slightly you will see the split where you can do this. take the old ones out counting how many turns. clean the threads in the bar and put copperslip on the new TRE's. put them in the same amount of turns it was to take them out. measure the length of the bar. hopefully this will get your tracking somewhere near to how it was

 

[Trailpug]

thank you captain skellon clear is good...

 

[Trailpug]

before i take the lot of how can i check there not knackered i have no problem with the steering at all just the gaiters are slightly cracked which is now an MOT failure pants really as Wilco do gaiters for a couple of quid....

 

[mikescuba]

If the rubber is split you will have to strip the track rod. If you go to Paddocks website you can get replacement track rod ends from as little as £4.20 each inclusive of VAT
Land Rover Defender Steering Parts | Paddock
I don't thinks its worth messing about for £8.40
They have some for double the price which I would imagine would be more longer lasting. I put the cheapest on mine and they have been good for the last 30.000 miles with some off roading.

 

[captain skellon]

to check them jack the wheel up and pull it at bottom and top. get a pry bar in there too to check it. as mikescuba says to replace the rubber you need to take it all apart anyway. if excess dirt has got in yours you will have to change them soon anyway

 

[jamesmartin]

if you cab get someone to rock steering wheel while you hold trak rod drag link etc it really is much more obvious that joint is worn

 

[Trailpug]

thank you all just waiting for a dry day when not working job on!