Track Rod End Ball Joint Boots?

Well I failed to remove the tie rod ball joint nut. It wasn't the usual problem of the spindle also turning but the fact that the top of the spindle thread was knackered. I tried many times to clean it up and made some progress removing the nut but the treads were really worn and would probably destroy the new nut I had. There was as small split in the boot so definitely needs doing for the MOT which I've booked for 16 Oct.

tie rod ball joint worn thread 2023-09-25 lr.jpg


I will have to cut the worn part away but rather than have a short spindle thread (which doesn't look good), I've decided to replace the tie rod ends. Now to find a good brand quickly.

PS Took time to clean the back of the wheels and to paint the suspension with Kurust.
 
Tearing my hair out searching for parts. The TRW ones mention earlier in this thread are not sold by GSF are no longer sold by them. They now sell Delphi at £44 a pair but I've seen negative comments about Delphi on this forum.

Then looked for TRW elsewhere. Found some at £57 pair on ebay but feedback suggests they come from Germany and delivery is slower than stated. I suspect they come from AutoDoc. AutoDoc have them at £46 pair + £8 p&p but they come from Germany and take over a week. I have an MOT on 16th.

I searched for Febi (as I believe they are a good brand) but only find ones for A2s are without power steering.

Lots of other brands at £8 to £15 but they are not known to me and sound too cheap.

Seller on ebay selling Aim Automotive ones at £36 - mid price - with 3 day delivery. Any one having any concerns or experience about AA?

AA looks like it might be Borg & Beck. Again I've seen negative comments about them on this forum.
 
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Alan_uk said:
I just looked at TPS. I think they are part of the VG Group which might explain that the only parts available for A2s are bulbs.
Click to expand...
Yes as a internet surfer you see next to nothing, I expect it is different if you are a bona fide registered local garage. You need to visit in person and they can provide everything Audi can, expect they are owned ultimately by VW, the result of some euro court ruling back in the day. It seems different branches have different approaches for dealing with the general public, some time ago I wrote a post about a visit to my local TPS.


Andy
 
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Success! I have found Lemforder Track Road Ends at Euro Parts for collection tomorrow just 4 miles away. Cost £28 each.

www.eurocarparts.com

Lemforder Track Rod End | Euro Car Parts

Lemforder Track Rod End at the lowest UK prices from Euro Car Parts UK’s No.1 for Car Accessories, Car Styling & Car Care. Buy today Online, In store or by Phone + Branches Nationwide – Next Day UK Free Delivery.
www.eurocarparts.com www.eurocarparts.com
www.eurocarparts.com

Lemforder Track Rod End | Euro Car Parts

Lemforder Track Rod End at the lowest UK prices from Euro Car Parts UK’s No.1 for Car Accessories, Car Styling & Car Care. Buy today Online, In store or by Phone + Branches Nationwide – Next Day UK Free Delivery.
www.eurocarparts.com www.eurocarparts.com

Euro Parts unfortunately don't give the Audi part number or the Lemforder part number but they do give the important PR number.

For those looking for track rod ends it is important to get the correct PR number for your A2* as there are 3 types:
  • 1N2 - for Power steering electro-hydraulic - this covers most UK A2 I believe but I may be wrong
  • 1N6 & 1N8 - for vehicles without electro-hydraulic steering - I think this is for the 1.2 L3 models
* as found on the specification sticker in the boot.
 
Alan_uk said:
Well I failed to remove the tie rod ball joint nut. It wasn't the usual problem of the spindle also turning but the fact that the top of the spindle thread was knackered. I tried many times to clean it up and made some progress removing the nut but the treads were really worn and would probably destroy the new nut I had. There was as small split in the boot so definitely needs doing for the MOT which I've booked for 16 Oct.

View attachment 113585

I will have to cut the worn part away but rather than have a short spindle thread (which doesn't look good), I've decided to replace the tie rod ends. Now to find a good brand quickly.

PS Took time to clean the back of the wheels and to paint the suspension with Kurust.
Click to expand...
Looks exactly like my old tie rod ends prior to me cutting them off - Shame you have an imminent MOT :(
 
Lemforder are definitely the best!!
Moog do get good reviews too but I would never fit delphi or febi and tbf trw ain't what it used to be!!
 
Picked up the Lemforder track rod ends from Euro Parts. Not the Lemforder part no. I was expecting: 22251 03 and 22253 03 rather 25983 01and 25984 01. I took them on the basis I could exchange. They also had the OEM no. on the box: 1J0 422 811 B and 1J0 422 812 B. An internet search says these are for a Golf IV, Volkswagen Jetta IV, Jetta IV GLI, New Beetle.

I was about to return them when I looked again on AudoDoc for an Audi A2 part and looked at the cheaper brands. Many were saying that their parts fits the A2 and various other VW/Skoda vehicles. Also the track rod thread sizes match M14x1,5/M12x1,5 and the lengths are usually 94mm. These match the Lemforder A2 sizes. What is never stated is the cone/taper size.

I minded to continue and do a comparison once mine are off.
 
Alan_uk said:
Picked up the Lemforder track rod ends from Euro Parts. Not the Lemforder part no. I was expecting: 22251 03 and 22253 03 rather 25983 01and 25984 01. I took them on the basis I could exchange. They also had the OEM no. on the box: 1J0 422 811 B and 1J0 422 812 B. An internet search says these are for a Golf IV, Volkswagen Jetta IV, Jetta IV GLI, New Beetle.

I was about to return them when I looked again on AudoDoc for an Audi A2 part and looked at the cheaper brands. Many were saying that their parts fits the A2 and various other VW/Skoda vehicles. Also the track rod thread sizes match M14x1,5/M12x1,5 and the lengths are usually 94mm. These match the Lemforder A2 sizes. What is never stated is the cone/taper size.

I minded to continue and do a comparison once mine are off.
Click to expand...
I have found this in the past along with a mix up of which side they supply so always best to buy a pair to avoid irritation!
 
Fitted the new track rod ends today. Probably took 3 times the length compared to a garage with all their power tools and knuckle clamps, but at least I know what brand I'm getting. I cut both corroded tops off the screws but still the nuts would not come fully off before the whole track rod ends rotated. Tried the lowering the end onto scrap wood trick but no good. So I Dremeled off again under the nut. Each cut wore out a Dremel disk.

Reassembling the right track rod end rotated despite the wood trick but I remembered I had Allen keys and one fitted. I made little caps to protect the exposed screw threads with their Allen key socket.

Test drive felt a little stiff when turning but keeps a straight line with the steering wheel centred. Also patched up the stone guard - will schedule changing next spring.

On putting back the wheel noticed a bright screw in the tyre so will now have to get that fixed and might as well have the alignment checked, although I fell I got it right. I did the white paint trick and counted the exposed threads when the tie rod nut was released as well as counted the turns to take off the tie rod ends. But I felt the most reliable check was the distance from the tie rod bellows circlip and the top edge of the thread on tie rod end. This indicated a 1mm adjustment was need. Lets see what the tracking report says.

Update: The screw was 11mm long and as there is a fair amount of tread on the tyre I think little has penetrate the tyre. No air seems to be escaping. I will move the front tyres to the back and monitor the air pressure. I've marked with a pen where the screws was.
 
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My suspension is generally fairly knackered so I'm planning to do a pretty much full rebuild in the not too distant future, but as a quick fix for the MOT I just cleaned the boot with degreaser where it had split and taped it up with some tescon tape which passed the mot without an advisory.
 
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