Fehilly3

New Member
HI guys,

This might be a daft question but im scuppered!

I have 2x track rod ends gubbed on my 1998 p38 4.0 and iv took a look under the car and sused out that is both ends on the bar behind the front axal. I see one is screwed in and the outer looked pressed so i assume the whole bar needs done! So i was looking for a replacement bar but was unsure if its a drag link or track rod etc etc....

Can anyone confirm what i need! :crazy:

Cheers!
 
If it's the track rods ends that are knackered then it would be a replacment track rod that's required. You will also need to get the wheel alignment done. You can get it as near as possbile using a tape measure then go to a garage to get it checked.
 
Track Rod Behind, Drag Link in front and connects to the Steering Box Drop Arm...
 
Can be done on the floor...

Get the Old Rod off, and measure it carefully from centre on one joint to the centre of the other....

Get the new rod and adjust to match the same measurements....and replace...it may be a bit of a wiggle...and is easier jacked up...but can be done!

You won't be a million miles out, and will be good enough to get you to a garage who can do the final tracking adjustment for you.
 
Hmmmm rethinking.....might be easier with the wheels off to split the balljoints from their sockets....
 
I've successfully replaced my Drag Link and have managed to split the taper joints on the Track Rod (TIQ000020G) away from the arms, no problem, so the TR is free to move. It's fouling on the radius arms so neither end will lift out. Car was on ramps but now on the ground... I was told to lock the steering to the opposite side to the one I want to remove. Locked full right but left side still won't clear. Waiting for photo to upload but pretty sure you all know exactly what I'm talking about.

What am I missing?
 

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I've successfully replaced my Drag Link and have managed to split the taper joints on the Track Rod (TIQ000020G) away from the arms, no problem, so the TR is free to move. It's fouling on the radius arms so neither end will lift out. Car was on ramps but now on the ground... I was told to lock the steering to the opposite side to the one I want to remove. Locked full right but left side still won't clear. Waiting for photo to upload but pretty sure you all know exactly what I'm talking about.

What am I missing?

Set steering straight ahead, twist the track rod end to reduce it's height should come off easily, you can't adjust drag link until track has been correctly set.
 
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Set steering straight ahead, twist the track rod end to reduce it's height should come off easily, you can't adjust drag link until track has been correctly set.

Cheers Wammers. It wouldn't re-seat and pinged out when I straightened the steering but it's off the car now. Wheels ended up at jaunty angles but I straightened one wheel with the power steering and one by hand (aggregate drive surprisingly easy for such a heavy car), will put new one on tomorrow adjusted to the length of the old one, only needs to get me a few miles to Glastonbury for laser tracking. Thanks again. Do you ever sleep? :D
 
Cheers Wammers. It wouldn't re-seat and pinged out when I straightened the steering but it's off the car now. Wheels ended up at jaunty angles but I straightened one wheel with the power steering and one by hand (aggregate drive surprisingly easy for such a heavy car), will put new one on tomorrow adjusted to the length of the old one, only needs to get me a few miles to Glastonbury for laser tracking. Thanks again. Do you ever sleep? :D

He keeps wetting the bed, it's an age thing, either that or his nurse keeps waking him up for sex or was it sack's:D:D:D
 
He keeps wetting the bed, it's an age thing, either that or his nurse keeps waking him up for sex or was it sack's:D:D:D

Doctor says if i keep having sex with her four or five times a night it could prove fatal. But sod it if she dies she dies. :p:D:D:D
 
Set steering straight ahead, twist the track rod end to reduce it's height should come off easily, you can't adjust drag link until track has been correctly set.

Struggling with similar problem fitting the new one now.

Can I just clarify:

Do you mean twist the ball joint so it goes from _| shape to _/ (wrong way up I know but there's no "overscore" character) OR Do you mean twist the threaded bits so the ball joint comes at the hole at an angle? OR Neither of those! Workshop manual absolutely no help just glibly says to refit it.

Is it best on RHD to put in the crimped end (on the left wheel) with no adjusters first or second? EDIT I just re-read the Workshop manual and see my error... step 3 "Remove Track Rod." refers to the LHS and Step 5 "Remove ball, joints, adjuster and clamps." to the RHS. When they said remove Track Rod I thought they meant the whole thing... reassembly the reverse of this so I'm doing it the wrong way round... will head outside but all further advice gratefully received in case it doesn't help.

I'm on the verge of throwing the towel in. But couldn't even get the car on a trailer now with no steering. :(
 
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Struggling with similar problem fitting the new one now.

Can I just clarify:

Do you mean twist the ball joint so it goes from _| shape to _/ (wrong way up I know but there's no "overscore" character) OR Do you mean twist the threaded bits so the ball joint comes at the hole at an angle? OR Neither of those! Workshop manual absolutely no help just glibly says to refit it.

Is it best on RHD to put in the crimped end (on the left wheel) with no adjusters first or second? EDIT I just re-read the Workshop manual and see my error... step 3 "Remove Track Rod." refers to the LHS and Step 5 "Remove ball, joints, adjuster and clamps." to the RHS. When they said remove Track Rod I thought they meant the whole thing... reassembly the reverse of this so I'm g=doing it the wrong way round... will head outside but all further advice gratefully received in case it doesn't help.

I'm on the verge of throwing the towel in. But couldn't even get the car on a trailer now with no steering. :(

You don't need to fit both ends in at the same time. Fit N/S with O/S end of track rod towards rear of car, then swing O/S in and twist into steering arm.
 

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