Track rod/ drag link ends

So I bought some new ones, what's the general consensus on using nylon threaded nuts instead of split pins??
Was a bit suprised to see them in the kit tbh, torqued them up to spec + another couple of turns but still doesn't seem as safe to me.

Split pins may be a pain but they are a "positive" locking device and will not work loose.

Nylock nuts are easier to fit but in theory could come loose but usually don't.

I would opt for the same nut as landrover fit, then you can'tm be wrong.

Split pins are old school thats why i use them, but nylock nuts or bolts using thread lock are ok.

that's the other part of me worry - i needed loads of grease on threads to get the nuts on, if not the whole ball joint would spin and there's nothing to grab. This meant I couldn't get any thread lock on 'em. Pretty sure I've done a good job of over tightening though, hope the garage can undo them to do tracking!

For future reference when tightening tracky ends twist the rod so it applies pressure to the sides of track rod end, hey presto nut does up, then gets to a certain point and the track rod end is tight enough in its hole to do up!

If a nut works loose, then you will probably know about it long before it gets to the end of the thread. Good tip above, i use a long bar to pry the tre into the hole if it starts to spin.

There is an 'allen key' slot in the end of the thread of the ball joint to stop it turning

Hi all can any body help didnt no ware to post so put it here, is the track rod ends the same as the drag link ends on discovery 300tdi as the drag link on the steering box end is nackard and i only have 2 left hand track rod ends and i bet its a right hand ?

The track rod uses two right hand thread joints, the drag link uses a left and a right one.

The steering box end is RH thread and the N/S wheel end is LH thread.

So you win the bet.

put new arb links on last week..

when i did up the castle nut it was a good quarter inch past the hole for the split pin... put the split pin in any way.. and just lookin for some washers to fill the space and put a new plit pin in...

not the most expensive ones and now i kno why...

thanks for the replys, so i need a right hand thread for the steering box end

tractorpet said:

thanks for the replys, so i need a right hand thread for the steering box end

Click to expand...

YES u do,
But as you may have to remove the rod completly, as I had to, and place in a vice to get to grips with undoing the ball joint from the rod you may wish to replace the other side LH joint or at lease grease the thead for easy replacement oneday, I used copper grease but any old grease will do

For the sake of £29 you can replace both ends and the whole tube, I just did mine and it makes centering the wheel a doddle.

Both my joints were knackered though.

where did you get your parts from

Paddocks.

thanks davek got new drag link tube and track rods fitted them now i can get back to my oil leaks