| TRACK ROD BALL JOINTS
Description
The outer track rod ball joints are fitted to the threaded ends of the two track rods protruding from the steering unit. Both ball joints have right hand threads which facilitate the setting of front wheel alignment and are locked by nuts.
The cast body houses a tapered bail pin, spring loaded nylon seats and sealed by a plate at the bottom and a rubber dust cover on top. They are sealed units and packed with lubricant during manufacture and will require no further lubrication in service.
The inner track rod ball joints are incorporated in the two ends of the steering rack and protected by the two convolute covers fitted on the ends of the steering unit. They must never be dismantled for a special technique is necessary to preload the belleville washers.
To remove and refit
1. Apply the handbrake, jack up the front of the car, remove the necessary front wheel(s) and support the bottom link(s) of the front suspension to remove any strain on the bail joints.
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2. Detach the ball joint from the steering arm by discard-ing the split pin, removing the castellated nut and extracting the tapered bail pin using a suitable extractor.
3. Remove the ball joint from the track rod by slackening off the lock nut and unscrewing the ball joint, all threads are right handed; the bail joints and track rods have flats to facilitate this operation.
4. Refitting is the reverse of the removal sequence but particular attention must be given to the following: —
(i) Check the front wheel alignment (toe-in), see under "Front wheel alignment — To adjust", In Front Suspension Section F.
(ii) Fit new spilt pins to the tapered ball pins.
(iii) Ensure that the tapered ball pins are centrally disposed in their sockets when the weight of the car is on the front wheels; any out of centre can be corrected by slackening off the locknuts, rotating the ball joint housing a short distance until this condition is attained.
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