Track Rod / Steering Arm Replacement

[Ravenelli69]

All,

I have just failed my DOE (Irish MOT) on my 93 hilux. They have informed me that the track rod / steering arm needs replacing - Part Number 45440.

Is this a DIY fix, or should I get it fixed by a mechanic?

Any help greatly appreciated.

Rav

[randolph]

Hi Rav

I've just replaced the power steering box and pitman arm on my 93 surf.
It was a bit fiddly but with the right tools it came off eventually.

For better access I removed the under-tray and a/c rad.
There are two pitman arms, one on the steering box output shaft and another idler on the other side (off-side).

Remove the large nut from the bottom of the steering box and the split pinned nut from the other end of the arm. You'll need a ball joint lever or a screw type ball joint remover to get the ball joint end out, I used the screw type. Don't bother with a hammer, you won't get anywhere.

To remove the arm from the steering box you'll need a slide hammer or a lot of patience. As I was changing the steering box I removed the whole lot and clouted it with a sledge hammer.

If you can get the arm off the steering box ok there's enough movement in the track rod to get it out and a new one in without removing the steering box.

When re-assembling remember to line up the the marks on the steering box output shaft and the new pitman arm.
I bought my pitman arm off ebay, total cost 43.49.

Hope this helps.

Paul

[Ravenelli69]

Thanks for the comprehensive reply.

Geoff

[Apache]

You only state one part number, and a track rod is not a steering arm.

Anyway, the track rods are the bits that set your wheel tracking and are easily replaced and cheap.

Pitman arm is also cheap (as stated by the previous poster) and is also easy to replace, though the idler arm (looks superficially similar to the steering arm) at the other end of the steering relay rod is the usual bit to fail through excess play.

I'd check with your MOT man which bit / bits actually need replacing. Get him to point to them so you dont end up spending uneccessarily.