MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG TD TF 1500 - Track Rod end wont come off

Some advice please

I am renewing the corrugated rubber steering gaiters on the steering rack and also the dust covers on the track rod end( also known at the tie rod end)

The old rubber was perished.

Making a note of the track rod position so I wont have tracking issues later and repacing the gaiter was a doddle.

But....

Now I cant work out how to remove the track rod end from the steering arm so I can renew the dust cover.

I have removed the castellated nut at the base thinking that the track rod will simply lift off the steering arm. But it doesnt.

I have given the threaded bolt a good upwards bash with my trusty mallet but that didnt shift it either.

The WSM doesnt help and I have stared at the Moss catalog to see if the parts diagram will shed some light. It doesnt.

What am I missing here?

Picture is enclosed




Ray Coyte

Argh

Sorry should have checked the Archives first.

Please ignore this post

John Twist has a solution that involves a big lever and an even bigger hammer.

His video is here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQ428hwJn38

Seems a bit brutal but it does the trick
Ray Coyte

There are two special tools, either a "pickle fork", or a "separator" that works like a reverse clamp. As you tighten the bolt on one end the two forks on the other end separate.
David Werblow

The 'separator' should be available. Here's a copy of the one in the Moss catalog:
Bud

Bud Krueger

Big lever and hammer did not work for me -I think you have to be a real mechanic for that to work- the tie rod end separator worked like a dream (probably available at local auto supply)
James
J K Barter

The BH trick really does work. Two people make a big difference - one to put pressure on the tie rod end in an upward direction with a pry bar or long screwdriver, and one to whack the end of the arm. It does take a BIG hammer and whack - you can't hold back on the swing - but it comes apart satisfyingly.

Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

I just did this same job and used a ball joint / tie rod end separator tool (heavy shaft with fork at the end) that I bought from PepBoys. One strike with a BH pretty much did it. It would not come apart with a BH on the backed-off castle nut. It did dent the bottom of the cup on the old tie rod ends, but I was installing new ones since grease was slinging all over the place with the old ones even though they didn't feel worn out (rubber was shot).

...Bill
Bill G

I used the"puller"in Bud's image from Moss.
JB
J K Barter

Try two hammers and hit on opposite sides to the sttering arm where the tie rod ends engage. Usually the force will slightly and temporarily deform the sttering arm opening just enough to pop the tie rod end loose.

The pickle fork will almost always tear the rubber boot and possibly dent the tie rod end.
Lew Palmer

This thread was discussed on 18/09/2013

MG TD TF 1500 index

This thread is from the archives. Join this live forum now