Inner ball joint replacement on steering rack

Newbie Joined: 29 Mar 2005 Posts: 9

My R19 rsi has just failed the MOT on the inner ball joints on the steering rack. Can I replace them without removing the rack? If so how easy is the job? The car has power steering. Thanks.

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

easiest with the rack off as usual.

Anyway, lets assume the drivers side.

Turn the wheel all the way to the left., remove the rack gaiter. You can now get access to the inner balljoint.

This little chappy doesn't have any flats or anythign for a spanner to go on so you need to use either stilsons or mole grips on it.

There is also a serrated washer which acts as a lock washer on it so its not the easiest thing to undo.

Have fun.

Newbie Joined: 29 Mar 2005 Posts: 9

Thanks for the info I have now done the job. For those who wish do venture that way I will give some details of the problems I ran across and how I resolved them. Firstly as you mentioned the ball joint cover does not have any flats on it, further, there is no way that I could get a mole wrench or stilsons on it, as there is no room. I used a 32mm ring spanner and hammered it on the cover, as the cover is mild steel it took the shape of the spanner. (I could have used a 32mm socket if I had one.) I managed to turn the thing by about 30 degrees, removed the spanner turned it and hammered it on again, etc until the assembly was removed. The next problem I had was how to tighten the new part on the shaft, I fixed a hose clip firmly on the new cover and used the screw on the clip as a lever. I found it eaiser to grind off the old shaft using an angle grinder before starting work.

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

I use grips on the drivers side and stilsons on the passenger side no bother.