Disco 1 steering trackrod - adjusting challenges

[bsa_m21]

Hi All,
My truck has been pulling to the left since the NW Challenge, when I managed to smack a rock and slice open a tire. I figured it's about time I adjust the steering, before it starts wearing the tires unevenly (or more than it has already).

It wasn't raining and the driveway was mostly dry today, so I thought I'd give it a go. Should be simple enough.....

• Center the steering box (there's a hole to push in a pin to lock it centered).

• Run a string around the vehicle at axle level and ID where it's not touching the front tires (Mine is pass side rear of axle).

• Loosen the two trackrod clamps.

• Clean all the threads and determine which way to turn the adjuster.

• Put a pipe wrench on the adjuster and pull/push, turning the adjuster as needed, till tires are centered.

Couldn't get the damn thing to budge.
Lots of penetrating oil. Nope.
Tried heating the pipe ends with a propane torch. No effect.
Tried smacking the pipe wrench with a small sledge hammer. Nothing.
It's on the driveway so I can't get a longer lever on the adjuster. And, I'm a bit leery of using my oxy torch on it, as there is lots of rubber bits in the area I could melt/burn.

Any/all suggestions on how to break loose the adjuster threads, are welcome.
Thx.

[ANDYD]

Hi Martin,

Do you have it off the vehicle? Its a lot easier when its on the bench and you can use a vice,

Cheers
Andy

PS First to rule out that its not the rim or the tyre that's the issue, (after hitting the rock :shock: ) did you swap the front wheels over to see if it made any difference?

[bsa_m21]

I was kind of hoping that I didn’t need to take it off. The rim was checked and i think it is fine.

[landcrabmechanic]

Use your proper torch, heat ends of the tube and pull really hard with pipe wrench to break free.

[bsa_m21]

Well I took advantage of the good weather and finally sorted out my steering.

Needed to take the track rod off and into the garage. In the vice and a lot of heat from the Acetylene torch and I manage to break the adjuster loose. Took it apart, cleaned the threads, applied some anti-seize and put it all back together again.

Out to car and bolted it back on. Then I centered the steering box, ran a tight string at axle level around all 4 wheels, and adjusted the track rod. The string needs to be touching both front and back of all 4 tires at axle level for the wheels to be parallel. Tightened the locking clamps and took her for a drive. Tracks and brakes in a straight line now. Yay! I needed to disconnect the battery for a bit to pull the steering wheel to recenter it a couple of degrees, but that was easy.

M.

[ANDYD]

Good to hear you were able to adjust it, the bench vice is certainly like an extra set of hands!

Another good thing is that now if you have to do a fix in the back woods you have the anti-seize in place which will make it a lot easier to take apart and adjust.
Bent steering bars are quite a common ailment on our off road adventures :bounce:

cheers
Andy