Date:         Wed, 14 Feb 2001 18:47:22 +0000
Reply-To:     Peter Cassidy <pcassidy@APPLE.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Peter Cassidy <pcassidy@APPLE.COM>
Subject:      Track rod replacement
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Hi all,

     Quickie question - has anyone ever replaced their track rods
before? The inner ball joints on my '88 Wolfie w/PS are very rattly.

Both Bentley and Haynes show that the track rod ends have to come off,
followed by the rack bellows. The track rods are screwed into the rack
and there is a lug which is then tapped into a groove on the rack.

Haynes also says that the rack should be re-greased with VW steering
rack grease only. Haynes also says that the entire rack should be
removed and clamped in a vise to remove the track rods.

Removing the rack (especially a PS one) is a phenomenal PITA. Has
anyone ever done this task *without* pulling the rack? Is it possible
to just remove the coupler and just lower the rack?

(OK, so that was three questions! 8-) )

Regards,

Rattly Pete with Wanderly Wagen

--
Peter Cassidy,                   pcassidy@apple.com
Sr. Dev. Engineer                 +353-21-4284316
WW Operations Engineering
Apple, Cork, Ireland.