Steering Arm/Track-Rod End Woes

[MattJ]

Hi folks,

Took Twinky for her MOT today and she passed with only 2 advisories.

Surprisingly the lower balljoints were fine and the emissions were spot-on, but the O/S/F track-rod end has a fair amount of play in it (not enough to fail) and the inner steering arm joints also have a similar amount of play in them.

I've just returned from a holiday where we did 2,550 miles through France and there was a noticeable amount of vibration through the steering wheel/car on the autoroutes (at approx. 120kph upwards), so I think I've found the culprit of this (seeing as everything else is tickity-shagging-boo).

Anyone got an idea as to where I might be able to get my grubby paws on a couple of steering arms (Renault West London want about £90 per side and £50 each for the track-rod ends)?

Thanks,

Matt

 

[oscar]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LEMFORDER-O-S-Right-Tie-Track-Rod-End-RENAULT-CLIO-1-6-16V-2-0-16V-SPORT-2-0-16V-/231245997983?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&fits=Model%3ATwingo&hash=item35d755e79f

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LEMFORDER-O-S-Right-Tie-Track-Rod-End-RENAULT-MEGANE-1-9-DTI-1-8-16V-1-6-16V-/351083414588?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&fits=Model%3ATwingo&hash=item51be33c43c

lemforder track rod ends, best of gear. if it's oem on BMW, Mercedes, Audi + a whole host of others then try telling me this is 'cheap crap' lol. as for the steering arms, renault is the only place you'll get those from. the twingo market isn't big enough for aftermarket companies to reproduce the twingo steering rack / arms so this is going to be a renault only deal.

 

[MattJ]

Cool, thanks for the info.

Is this a job that only Renault can do (requires special tooling according to the workshop manual), or can any workshop do it?

MJ

 

[oscar]

there is no such thing as a renault specific job! you can do this yourself with an adjustable pipe wrench to remove the inner steering arms .... don't let renault or half of cliosport.net fool you into thinking that a renault is anything special when it comes to working on. basic tooling is all that's required, your local garage will be able to do this job more than fine. the only problem will be that the parts will need to come from renault as aftermarket companies don't make steering racks for a twingo RS as it's not worth their while due to the small amount of 133's on the road

 

[lgonzalez]

Gotta love a workshop inner track rod removal tool makes the job a whole lot easier!!!

 

[oscar]

Gotta love a workshop inner track rod removal tool makes the job a whole lot easier!!!

sure does lol, but i'm sure you'd agree you can get around not having the special tool fairly easily. it's the same scenario with removing gearbox / shaft oil seals, you'll find that you'll get laughed at if you whip out a 'special tool' for something like an oil seal in an independent garage! ... well maybe that's just where i work :?

 

[lgonzalez]

Oh yeah I started out in independent and had no special tools so it can be done, now I get laughed at for doing things the hard way when there are specific tools that are there lol.

I'm not an apprentice just not Renault specific trained. Level 3 vrq level 3 vcq advance apprenticeship completed. Work just want to send me on Renault training and I want them to push me up the ladder in Renault, which they said they are willing to do.

Oh what's that like? Haven't had an engine strip to do yet, don't think they get many, if any in at the place I'm at, sounds interesting.

 

[MattJ]

Just as an update to this...managed to fit everything today...

Not much change out of £200 for the Renault parts, but it didn't cost too much for the ones from Euro Car Parts...and, please don't judge me for this, I did get myself a 'special tool' by Draper which made the job so much easier...

In fact, the hardest part was trying to get the damned car up in the air so I could get both front wheels off!!

 

[oscar]

nothing wrong with ECP parts, usually good gear. mercedes etc OEM brands volvo ford nissan. track rod ends they sell for the twingo are good better than renaults cheap tat anyway!

 

[MattJ]

Well, I splashed out a little and got the Lemforder ones...look like decent bits of kit!!

 

[oscar]

Well, I splashed out a little and got the Lemforder ones...look like decent bits of kit!!

ah yeah, they made vag / bmw / mercedes track rod ends for a while. not sure on the 08> models but before that they did. good enough for a merc .... must be fine for a cheap renault obviously people will tell you otherwise, mostly traders and 'specialists'. scary really but that's life