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MG TD TF 1500 - Inner tie rod-ball housing

I have a 1954 mg tf I have the inner tie rod out of the car. I am trying to get the ball housing separated from the male fitting. I know there are special tools to do this and but haven't been able to find them. I am new to this web site and would appreciate any suggestions Randy
R k d Drobny

Loads on ebay under ball joint splitter.
Dave H
Dave Hill

I suspect this is the ball he is talking about Dave.

L E D LaVerne

I tried to up load a picture but it wouldn't do it. I'm referring to the inner tie rod that attaches to the steering rack. I have the tie rod and inner tie rod removed from the car as one piece. At one end is the inner tie rod. Yes I viewed the pic you posted LaVerne do u have any suggestions on how to get the ball housing from the male fitting?
R k d Drobny

I tried to up load a picture but it wouldn't do it. I'm referring to the inner tie rod that attaches to the steering rack. I have the tie rod and inner tie rod removed from the car as one piece. Yes I viewed the pic you posted, and that is it. LaVerne do u have any suggestions on how to get the ball housing from the male fitting? Thanks again. Randy
R k d Drobny

This might help you Randy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VbpAYr_lXo
Rod Jones

My mistake, not the usual ball joint / track rod end. I think you need to make a special tool for that job, but then when you get it apart to inspect the parts and find there is significant wear, can you get the parts? I bought a new steering rack for my '54 TF and found it to be surprisingly inexpensive (for what it is), though RHD.
Dave H
Dave Hill

Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions. I was under the impression that I would have to fabricate some kind of a tool. I have seen John twist’ video. He uses a pair of vise grips to get his loosened. Mine must be seized up. Thanks again for all your help. Randy
R k d Drobny

Randy, I seem to remember trying a C spanner from a lathe chuck, can’t remeber if it was that or the multi grips that shifted it. If you do get it apart you need to buy a selection of shims to get the preload set correctly when reassembling.
Chris
C I Twidle

Chris. Did the c spanner you mentioned work? You said that it slipped. I have a new ball housing and the male fitting with three different shims I was going to cut it apart but the contents inside are so well fitted I don't want to take the chance. Thanks for your suggestion. My son works heavy machinery, I will ask him. Randy
R k d Drobny

It’s a couple of years ago now so can’t be sure. I seem to remember at least thinking about a pair of stilsons. The C spanner was useful once it was free for the repeated dismantling to get the shimming right.
Chris
C I Twidle

Ok, I've missed something here and want to know more, just in case I ever have to do it. With these ball joints (any ball joints?) is it just a matter of shimming correctly to take up wear? Is there some formula for the preload?
Dave H
Dave Hill

I seem to remember that years ago when I had TD I lapped the ball to is seating using an electric drill and fine grinding paste. After sorting the shims it was perfect.


Jan T
J Targosz

Dave,
The WSM section J6 gives the instructions for ball joint maintenance.
The ball cap has destroyed a couple of tools I made for removal. If the whole assembly comes off the rack they are a pig to dissemble. the last one I did, I had to hold the rod housing (which is very thin)in an old lathe chuck and use a windy hammer to break the cap loose.
Ray TF 2884
Ray Lee

Yes it does indeed - for some reason I missed that before. There are even good diagrams of the tooling required, which is helpful. I have a used LHD rack, condition unknown, so if ever feel a need to restore it, the info is there.
Dave H
Dave Hill

Ray I finally got the inner tie rods apart. Not the traditional way. My son worked on them for awhile and then got fed up with that. So he cut them apart with no damage to the parts inside. I was interested in what u said about the MSW section j6 I’m not familiar w that. Please elaborate. Randy
R k d Drobny

WSM just refers to the Work Shop Manual.
Section J6 gives procedure for assembly and adjustment of the ball joint.
Cutting them apart seems an expensive way of dissembly
Ray TF 2884
Ray Lee


There are times when it may be wise to not open up an item just to see what's inside. This may be one example.
I've made the tools, beat up the ball housings and cursed my self because it is very hard to accomplish the task without damaging some of the housing parts. ---Don't do it ---unless it is essential due to excessive slack, bent parts or related.

I've since learned that the rack and pinion steering is one of the most desirable design features of the TD and usually doesn't display much wear. I found one car that had a "clunk" noise due to excessive wear between the outer case and the rack, other wise, no issues to be solved in most every case. The whole rack assembly can usually be cleaned, washed out with solvent, painted, lubricated, and new boots installed without much disassembly.
Richard Cameron

There is a special tool (spanner) to take it apart. It shown in the back of the workshop manual. The Y manual has the dimension of the tool.

Butch
R Taras

Butch,
they may have worked 65 years ago when fresh. I have made and destroyed a few of these tools. One time I had to weld the inner onto a steel plate and drift off the cap (this was before parts became available)
Ray Lee

This thread was discussed between 11/02/2019 and 24/02/2019

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