Replacing driver's side track rod

[al_bey]

Hi all,

I recently took my car to get the tracking as i knew it was out after lowering my car, the guys at the tracking place said the ends were seized so they couldnt adjust it. I took it home with the tracking still out and shredded a bit more rubber off my tyres. 

I have tried everything to get the track rod end off, but it is completely siezed. I have used an oxy acetylene torch until it is glowing red hot and still no luck. The 13mm spanner grip on the track rod has now rounded due to the amount of force i had to put on it. (I even clamped it with a vice and still no joy).

So basically now i'm just going to have to replace the whole track rod. I'd just like some advice on how easy it is to change. I can only jack the car up, dont have ramps of anything. Is it a job for the garage, or shall i do it myself?

Any advice appreciated.

Cheers

[stupow]

just a long shot. have u tried turning it the other way? normally one side has a left hand thread.

[al_bey]

It has turned slightly, so i know i'm doing it the right way, but now it won't budge at all.......

[thai-wronghorse]

Have you tried a pair of stilsons on it after heating it?

[al_bey]

Ive just looked what stilsons are, i have tried them on the track rod end but not on the actual track rod itself. I might have to give it a go, or take it to the garage, it would be a lot easier in a pit or on a ramp.......

[Wayne]

If you have heated it that much you would better to replace the complete rod.

[thai-wronghorse]

Good point, all the heating may well have made the metal brittle and therefore weaker now anyway.

[cobalt6700]

By heating to cherry red and allowing to cool naturally you have just annealed the track rod, plus any grease that was in the joints has boiled/burnt off.

New trackrod is the way to go 

[al_bey]

That's what I'm going to do, I just wanted advice on how hard it was and if should do it myself or whether i should take it to a garage....

[rubjonny]

put it on full lock that side, peel the boot back and you'll see the spanner flats on the rod end. just a case of can you get a spanner on it! you may have to take the wishbone off but peeps have said they managed ok