Wheel Alignment Problem (Track Rod End) [Solved]

Crabman

Hi folks,

I was wondering whether anyone could advise whether it's possible to damage the split pin on a track rod end (both nearside and offside) when performing a front wheel alignment?

The item was an MOT failure and the garage said the split pins were broken off in the track rod ends. Their view was that this was not a wear and tear item and was caused by whoever did work on those parts.

I've approached the (different) garage that performed the alignment work a few months ago. Their response was that they 'went nowhere near the split pin' for the front wheel alignment. At the time of the alignment they did not highlight any issues.

As I understand it, the split pins should have been removed before doing the alignment, so their comment about "going nowhere near them" may be useful...

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks

colino

Can't think off hand of a car that has split pins on the adjustment end of the track rod. The split pin would be in the castle nut holding the tapered joint in at the outboard end and you, or the garage, would have no need to touch it just to do the alignment.

Crabman

colino wrote: »

Can't think off hand of a car that has split pins on the adjustment end of the track rod. The split pin would be in the castle nut holding the tapered joint in at the outboard end and you, or the garage, would have no need to touch it just to do the alignment.

Thanks, I believe the split pin they are referring to is the one in the castellated nut (the one that secures the track rod end to the steering arm).

In what circumstances would both the offside and nearside split pins break, if not during front wheel alignment?

Daz2009

The garages are correct,they would have no need to go anywhere near that part of the track rod end....the adjustment is done by loosening the lock nut where the track rod end screws onto the steering rack and then the rack is turned (not the whole rack you understand just the rod ) to set the tracking.
My guess is the car has had work done on the suspension at some point in it's life and whoever did it didn't replace the split pins.

colino

A real cowboy would miss out the split pin, or fail to replace it if he had the joint apart, are you absolutely sure it isn't a nyloc though?

flashg67

I can only remember one vehicle that only had one adjustable track rod - an old Merc Van. To adjust the non-lock nut side, you had to remove the track rod end at the ball joint, but that's the only one I can think of, so have to agree with the consensus OP, that the alignment place haven't been near the split pins

forgotmyname

Split pin on the balljoint nut that goes through the steering arm?

They wouldnt remove them to do the tracking. But does the balljoint not have a self locking nut instead so no actual split pin was used or required in the 1st place?

Not the spring holding the rubber cover in place?

Crabman

Thanks for the replies.

The vehicle hasn't had any suspension work carried out. The only work done between last year's MOT and the one this week has been a service (where the wheels were removed to routinely examine the brakes) and of course the separate wheel alignment job.

forgotmyname - I don't know specifically, all I know is that it's the split pin that goes through the castellated nut.

I'm more puzzled now as to how this could have happened. The split pin doesn't appear to be a load bearing part so I still don't understand how both nearside and offside could have broken within the same timeframe if the alignment job wasn't the cause.

Does this require new track rod ends or should it be possible to extract the broken pins and simply replace them? If the latter I'm thinking 0.5-1hr labour time to complete the job??

Daz2009

You could probably just replace the castellated nuts with nyloc ones

paddedjohn

Sounds like they may have been missing for a couple of years but have been missed on previous mots

epninety

I agree they were probably missing for some time, but the OP hasn't mentioned what the vehicle is?

On older Land Rovers, it's common to see sheared pins where mechanics couldn't get the pins out, and use the nut to cut them (I've been known to do it myself, but I always replace the pins!). No need to take them off to do wheel alignment though, except if one side of the track rod or drag link is seized - when you might pop one end out to make a coarse adjustment, or get more leverage on the stuck joint.

So unlikely but possible if on a similar vehicle (Pajero, G-Wagen etc.) but more likely to have been off at some other time to replace joint boots, wheel bearings etc.

Replacing them is a simple job, but occasionally the remains won't come out easily and it might be cheaper (if paying a mechanic) to replace the joint.