Cant move lock nuts along steering arm

[jammacdo]

Guys

Tried to get my 4 wheel geo done recently but they said they cant move the above. I had a look. Although I can loosen the locknut from the end of the track rod end I cannot move it inboard. It will go the other way but presumably the adjustment needs to be both ways in order to setup the steering correctly. There was some rust that I took off the threads with a wire brush but the lock nut wont budge and so the track rod end always goes back to where it was. How do you clean it off? Is there a really big die that can rethread the end of the steering rack arm (remove the rust) or is it a case of manually using a junior hacksaw blade?

thanks

[robin]

Assuming you can turn the arm out of the track rod end such that eventually the arm comes right out of the rod end then I would whizz the nut off and just carefully run the die down the rod - it's M10 or M12 I think?

Alternately have at it with a wire brush on the end of a drill/dremel.

Be carefully not to twist the gaiter up ... inject some lube between the rubber and the rod and/or snip off the tie wrap that pinches the gaiter to the track rod.

[jammacdo]

Thanks Robin. Managed to loosen off the steering arm and get it away enough to attack the threads with a wire brush. Then once clean enough got the locknut to go over it with lots of penetrating oil. Had similar issues with rear control arms. In my best Ed China impression I used a blow torch to expand the bar and get the locknut to loosen

Rear diffuser off, all adjustable bits cleaned, greased and ready for tomorrows 4 wheel geo setup.