free rack?

Post Fri Jan 06, 2006 4:05 pm

what is this? my local tracking service guys told me i need to free up the rack so they can access...

said something about raising up on a ramp taking out some pins, and heating up??? anyone be more specific??

cheers

Post Fri Jan 06, 2006 4:38 pm

Makes no sense.

They might have to get it up(the car) to adjust the track rod ends, but freeing the rack? no idea.....

Post Fri Jan 06, 2006 4:44 pm

Sounds like someone wasn't paying attention to what the mechanic was saying :lol:

Might be an idea to go ask him again.

Post Fri Jan 06, 2006 4:53 pm

lol he said its a common problem when trying to track the e30s, they have to send them off to the mechanic first, so the mechanic can sort out the rack... aparently its very rusty??

common problem with the rack anyone? lol yeah i wsa half asleep...

Post Fri Jan 06, 2006 4:55 pm

that lot don't make sense.

Is your car lowered? I had grief when I wanted to get the tracking done on my car, most places said it was too low to be able to fit the gubbins they fit over your wheels (lack of clearance between tyres & arches) also ground clearance putting it on the 4 post lift some places use.

Just a thought

Post Fri Jan 06, 2006 4:56 pm

dark_sounds wrote:lol he said its a common problem when trying to track the e30s, they have to send them off to the mechanic first, so the mechanic can sort out the rack... aparently its very rusty??

common problem with the rack anyone? lol yeah i wsa half asleep...

I think he might be reffering to the track rod ends being a bitch to adjust.
this happens if they have not been adjusted for a long time.

Post Fri Jan 06, 2006 4:59 pm

argh what a fool, he was walking off while chattin all this, he defo said something about heating up the rack and something to do with pins... are there pins in the rack? lol i might give up and give him a ring,,,, "oi its me with the e30, what did you say my problem was? " lol obviosly in a more polite maner,

just for note,, hes normally very very good at what he does, have used him or years

Post Fri Jan 06, 2006 5:04 pm

There are no pins. Track rod ends have a ball joint on one end in the strut, the other end has a thread that is screwed in the ends of the rack, this threaded part is secured with clamps that have bolts thru them, so he might be calling the bolts on the clamps "pins".

Post Fri Jan 06, 2006 5:09 pm

so why would it need heating?? hmm ,,, will give him a call tommorow this is annoying me, chers for the input guys

Post Fri Jan 06, 2006 5:11 pm

Some mechanics will heat the threaded end of the rack/track rod end to help free it.

Post Fri Jan 06, 2006 7:14 pm

Sounds like the track rod ends/locknuts (how the tracking is adjusted) are siezed solid, what he's saying is to take the car away, get it up on ramps and torch the rust and get everything loosened/freed off so he can adjust the tracking without losing his knuckles! Or else spend a week at home trying to loosen it and spraying it with WD40 - then go and get somebody to heat it up because its still siezed! If it was a kwik fit type place rather than a general garage, they don't like to twat about with siezed stuff as things are usually done on a fixed price.

Cheers
Brian

Post Fri Jan 06, 2006 7:15 pm

As posted previously , the design of the trackrod ends ensure that over a period of time they're a sod to undo so most tyre fitters will apply a lot of heat to the track rod to enable them to adjust / replace them.nothing sinister to it just a method that some garages use

Post Fri Jan 06, 2006 7:21 pm

personally speaking, if they are in such a state that they need some heat on them etc and you are off to get your tracking done anyway, then why not consider replacing them? Ãƒ”šÃ‚£11 a side ain't no major expense and will avoid vague steering, MOT failure and possible wheel wobble for another few years.

Post Fri Jan 06, 2006 7:58 pm

And make sure that the track rod ends ure unscrewed completely and liberal amounts of copper grease are applied to both the male and female threads before reassembling.
If this had been done before, you wouldnt have this problem now.

Post Fri Jan 06, 2006 8:05 pm

If you loosen and slide the clamps completely out of the way, wire brush along the slots in the track rods, liberaly apply WD40 and then prise or shock the slots open slightly with a large screwdriver, you can usually get WD40 to be sucked into the threads.
After a while and more WD40, the rod ends can usually be persuaded to unscrew without the use of a blowtorch.