4th gen rear wheel steering track rod ends

89 UKDM BA4 4WS (resto job!) · Post by **wurlycorner** » Thu Jul 31, 2014 4:16 pm

I still haven't fitted these

It's obviously now irrelevant, but the day IS dawning where I might get mine fitted, honest... (Lisa's lude needs the 4WS rack replacing so they'll get done at the same time)

Well done to Spydor for posting up.

Post by **SPYDOR** » Thu Jul 31, 2014 4:33 pm

I'd recommend having a decent blowtorch handy as the jam nuts were seized on to the inner track rods on mine and needed a touch of pure hellfire

before I could get them to move, even after that one of them required a lot of force to unthread.

For anyone else who is thinking of doing this for the first time, get a ball joint separator tool! I used one of the fork tools (under £10 at Halfords), which destroyed the old boots but was invaluable for separating the track rod ends from the steering hubs. Despite copious amounts of penetrating oil, no amount of battering the top of the old track rod end or side of the steering hub made a blind bit of difference.

Post by **Vtecmec** » Thu Jul 31, 2014 4:41 pm

Glad to know that me being a tightwad has helped someone else out.

Post by **SPYDOR** » Thu Aug 23, 2018 7:07 pm

Quick update to say the boots on these replacement tie rod ends are destroyed after 4 years: split all the way around. Just noticed so I'd say they only lasted 2-3 years, judging by the state they are in.

Cheap aftermarket parts don't last, you say? Who knew...

Can't be messing about testing replacement boots so I've bought Honda ones from JapanCars.ru as UK prices are currently £190 for the pair!

89 UKDM BA4 4WS (resto job!) · Post by **wurlycorner** » Fri Aug 24, 2018 11:48 am

Good update, thanks SYPDOR

That Japancars site looks good.
How much have you paid on there, including delivery?

Post by **SPYDOR** » Fri Aug 24, 2018 5:56 pm

Current price was about £55 per tie-rod end on JapanCars, assuming the sub-supplier has it in stock. Hard to give a definite cost on delivery, although it always works out cheaper than buying in the UK if you don't mind waiting a few weeks.

My last order in Spring was for a knock-sensor, which cost about £20 in delivery but still worked out at least £50-60 cheaper than the UK. Previous, larger orders have not had any delivery charge added, so either it is inclusive for larger orders, or they changed their postage rules recently.

89 UKDM BA4 4WS (resto job!) · Post by **wurlycorner** » Sat Aug 25, 2018 5:19 pm

What's the import duties like?

Post by **SPYDOR** » Sat Aug 25, 2018 6:17 pm

I think I've only been hit with tax at customs once in about 4 orders so far and I think it was £15-£20. Still worked out miles cheaper than UK prices though.

mercutio · Post by **mercutio** » Mon Aug 27, 2018 5:24 pm

didnt someone say once that mondeo track rod ends fit or was i just dreaming that???

Post by **Vtecmec** » Fri Aug 31, 2018 8:41 pm

I think the Mondeo ones fit too, I've just measured some Jaguar X Type rod ends I have spare and they'll fit (M14x1.5), the Mondeo and the X Type share the same steering and suspension.