Allegro Club International

[kevin]

Hi everyone does anyone know if you can change the front tie rod rubbers without undoing the ball joints? In some workshop manuals it states that you have to use a ballpin remover wich clearly adds to the work. In others there is no mention {slightly confused!} Anyone had any experience I would love to know thanks Kevin.

[Colin T]

Hi Kevin

I don't see any need for undoing the balljoints and removing the hub - you should be able to unbolt the rear end of the tie-rod, remove the front clip and nut and withdraw it. Having siad that it was 7 years since I changed my rubbers so I could be wrong!

Colin
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Hell has frozen over...... the car formally known as 'Heap' is back on the road!

[kevin]

Thanks Colin by the look of mine it could be some 20-30 years !!! so I think they are due for replacement. The reason for the question every now and again I get a slight knocking from the nearside front and Very rearly I get a feeling the whole engine is shuddering when I change down to say 2nd gear most weird any ideas? thanks Kevin

[Colin T]

If the juddering/knocking is related to engine/clutch/gearbox then I would think that the engine mounts would be more likely to be the cause. Do they look ok? Are the engine tie-rods secure and not loose?
_________________
Hell has frozen over...... the car formally known as 'Heap' is back on the road!

[kevin]

Hi Colin thanks for the advice I will check and let you know how I get on thanks again Kevin

[Laurence]

Hi Kevin

Yes, you will have to release the swivel hub lower ball joint to be able to remove the tie rod bolt. The bolt head is uppermost so the bolt has to be pushed up for removal, the swivel hub/drive shaft have to be raised (with the lower arm lowered) so that the bolt can be removed.

Before releasing anything, with the wheel off, raise the suspension assembly & place a large nut (or similar) under the upper suspension arm so all the assembly is held in the raised position, then release the lower ball pin so you can lower the lower suspension arm & remove the tie rod bolt etc.

When the tie rod is removed you can give the suspension lower arm rubber bushes a good inspection, they could well be breaking up & cause the shuddering you mentioned. The tie rod bushes could be the culprit, & so could the items Colin has pointed out.

[kevin]

Thanks Laurence now starts the detective work watch this space I will let you know how I get on, thanks once again Kevin