Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[terry paget]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vauxhall-ASTRA-H-ZAFIRA-B-LEFT-RIGHT-Inner-Tie-Outer-Track-Rod-Ends-Boots/322236021451?hash=item4b06c37acb:g:0NoAAOSwaB5XuhH-
Should these components cure my front end clonk?

[Doctor Gollum]

Depends on where the clonk is... If it's 100% track Tod's, then yes. If it's droplinks then they won't.

That said, if the track rods are worn, then you can reasonably expect to need to replace the lot

[dave the builder]

yes they are correct fitment 

Should these components cure my front end clonk?

If you have checked all the suspension and anti roll links and bushes and wheel bearings and they are OK then it should solve the "Clonk"
 if this is for the car that had repeated advisories for "steering play" 

you could remove the old outer track rod ends from the knuckle and feel for play in them and the inner tie rod joints to confirm if your struggling to diagnose it Terry

[terry paget]

Depends on where the clonk is... If it's 100% track Tod's, then yes. If it's droplinks then they won't.

That said, if the track rods are worn, then you can reasonably expect to need to replace the lot

Mot history has mentioned several times 'slight play in steering', but still passed MOT. Standing in the pit holding the track rods while wife above rocks the steering I feel clonks on both sides, so I suspect play either in the outer or inner joints. Next MOT is due in July, seems prudent to sort it now.

[Doctor Gollum]

You could probably identify which ball joint('s) worn, but whilst you're there it makes sense to do them all as they're most likely the same age/mileage

[Kevin Wood]

Yep, you should be able to feel play in the outer ball joints easily enough by holding them as the steering is gently rocked but it might be at ball on the rack end of the track rod or even some play in the bush at the end of the rack. Best to try and locate the source of the play before changing anything, IMHO.

EDIT: What you've posted seems to replace joints at both ends of the track rod but my comment still stands regarding possible play in the rack itself.

[terry paget]

Thanks to all for advice. My recollection is that the outer joints were free of play, so not needing replacement. Having said that, on my Omegas the adjusters to the outer track rods tend to rust solid, so may have to come off anyway. Years ago I had play in the splined connection between steering column and pinion. I have known play between rack and pinion too.

[terry paget]

For what it's worth, FV10, the first Astra 1.6 H I bought, in October 2018, then having covered 164273 miles, came with full service history and no mention of any steering gear repairs, though it had received new drop links. It has now covered 171557 miles, has no steering clonks or play, and is to have an MOT test tomorrow. The red Astra, an 06 car of 151000 miles, is the car with history of steering clonks and slight play. Make of that what you will.

[dave the builder]

Track rod ends are so cheap now that it may not be in the history , done when new tyres are fitted and tracked perhaps ,or DIY replaced by previous owner , or motorway miles , not many corners 
also, some people stuff their wheels into the curb every time they park, or jump the wheels onto the pavement and other bad practice that wears and damages parts .

£35 for the lot, delivered and a simple job to fit , worth getting the tracking checked  once fitted though (about £35),unless you have the kit and can check it yourself .

[Doctor Gollum]

If you don't disturb the struts or arms, you should get away with basic tracking adjustment.

If you wanted to be fussy, you could have the car measured as is* and have it reset to that exact set up once you have changed the parts.

*assuming even tyre wear and decent road manners.

[terry paget]

Track rod ends are so cheap now that it may not be in the history , done when new tyres are fitted and tracked perhaps ,or DIY replaced by previous owner , or motorway miles , not many corners 
also, some people stuff their wheels into the curb every time they park, or jump the wheels onto the pavement and other bad practice that wears and damages parts .

£35 for the lot, delivered and a simple job to fit , worth getting the tracking checked  once fitted though (about £35),unless you have the kit and can check it yourself .

Thanks for the advice , Dave, I'm sure you're right, but like the timing belt kit I haven't done one before so I am nervous. The 2004-2008 and 2008-2012 Haynes manuals differ in their instructions. Running 3 Astras I am sure I shall need those parts eventually, so I have ordered them.

[Doctor Gollum]

I would be inclined to work with the earlier manual, as the Astra J was released for the 2010 MY so there may well be some crossover in the manual. Also it may well include aspects of the Zafira B which continued after the Astra H... Which might explain the discrepancies 

[dave the builder]

I would not even read a manual to do inner and outer tie rods
remove nut , smack knuckle hard,TRE pops out , check for wiggle ,unscrew the lot from rack end (gaiter removed) ,adjust new to same length as old,re-fit ,drink coffee ,
swap to other side
not sure if the haynes manual says "eat cake or biscuit" during the drink coffee part  they do over-complicate things 

[andyc]

The most common parts i used to sell were top mounts, steering tie rods and drop links

Andy

[terry paget]

Thanks for further advice. As said before, the job looked easy on U-tube, complicatd in Haynes, especially the later manual. Curiously, the later manual has much better pictures than the earlier one. I am a printer, and can see the 2004 manual was 'flooded' with ink, making the half tone pictures very dark; the later manual is much better.