tracking arm assistace

[mat1]

so yesterday i finally got of my arse and went to the garage to get my tracking sorted as for the last few weeks i have been fighting the wheel and battling to keep out of the near side hedge.
up on the ramps it is plain obvious the tracking is way way way way way out. but that ant a problem as it will only cost 11 pounds to sort........if the garage could have undone the bottle style screw on the tracking arm.
any ideas. the state of play is that at each end of the bottle is a clamp and both were lossened. the mechanic attached a large wrench with a bit of pipe on and still would not budge. i have tried no penetrating lubes or diesel (as a mate sugested) as the weather is crap and i cant be arsed getting a wet back.
the other option is to heat it up but then something is going to have to be replaced and its all about cheap cheap cheap!!!

[max6674]

so yesterday i finally got of my arse and went to the garage to get my tracking sorted as for the last few weeks i have been fighting the wheel and battling to keep out of the near side hedge.
up on the ramps it is plain obvious the tracking is way way way way way out. but that ant a problem as it will only cost 11 pounds to sort........if the garage could have undone the bottle style screw on the tracking arm.
any ideas. the state of play is that at each end of the bottle is a clamp and both were lossened. the mechanic attached a large wrench with a bit of pipe on and still would not budge. i have tried no penetrating lubes or diesel (as a mate sugested) as the weather is crap and i cant be arsed getting a wet back.
the other option is to heat it up but then something is going to have to be replaced and its all about cheap cheap cheap!!!

I'm glad you asked this question, saves me asking he he.
I took mine in the other week and they too could not free what they needed to free. Mine is only 2mm out so its not too much to worry about, although would be good if it could be freed.

[Elfstone]

Same for me

I took mine into a fairly reputable chain tyre / exhaust garage. They couldnt budge it by nomal means and did heat it up. That got it working and they were able to adjust it after that. In practice, as long as the heat is applied with care it shouldnt be a problem. He did cool everything down afterward and applied plenty of thin lubricating oil.

Ben

[andycook]

had fun with these tracking arms in June.
Myself and a mate were chaning the track-rod ends. We used blow-torch, and even a BBQ in the end to heat-up the parts, and quench the bits we didnt want to expand. I also used a large vice and Stilson wrench to free-up the adjusting sleeve

[Tallyman]

This seems to be a normal problem with Surf's s mine was the same. Tyre dealer wouldn't touch it as mole grips didn't work and they didn't want to try a pair of Stilsons in case they broke something.

Got the dealer to sort it, as well as the tracking. They had to heat it but avoided getting the torch too near the steering joints or they would have melted the rubber sleeves. That seems the only way to free them off though.

[TonyN]

Heat is the best way, a normal blow torch on the ends where the tread goes in, then a pair of stilsons. Undo it and apply lots or anti-seize, then take it down the aligment center.

[mat1]

i had a go at the lubing thing today...and failed. in fact i sat under the car for an hour having a noisy and still could not shift it. however i did find some fresh looking oil under the gear box!!! and discovered all my whell nuts were loose so it was slightly productive.
still can not figure where to jack the front as the jap handbook and haynes are as much use as a chocolate teapot.
ill got a blow torch when i next go to b and q
cheers.

[TonyN]

still can not figure where to jack the front as the jap handbook and haynes are as much use as a chocolate teapot.

cheers.

Either end of the front diff crossmember, where the lower suspension arms connect to.

I often put it under the lower suspension arm, with the jack saddle around the small bulge near the balljoint, it saves having to lift the truck and all the suspension movement as well.

[kitesurf_phil]

I had my tracking done (laser stylee!) three weeks ago and for the first time in 13 months I have even tyre wear on the front.

and yes, the tyre centre (Super Tyres in Luton) did have to apply heat. I was a bit worried when I saw the guy approching my pride and joy with the Oxy-Acetelene torch, but he was sparing with it.