How long should a track rod end last?

Lucifer · Post by **Lucifer** » 25 Mar 2008, 12:13

I have had some flat spots on the steering of late and got a chance to check thing today only to find the NSF track rod end has lots of free play and a broken rubber seal.

The stange thing is both track rod ends where replaced about 12mths ago by myself and the cars only done about 12000 miles since then.

Is this nornal or was it maybe just a cheap part?

Mandrake · Post by **Mandrake** » 25 Mar 2008, 19:10

Definitely not normal - so I'm guessing cheap part, yes... how long had the previous one done and was it original ?

Regards,
Simon

Post by **myglaren** » 25 Mar 2008, 19:59

What do you consider to be cheap?
I've put one in and a second is waiting. They were OK but the rubber shrouds were split.
The ones I bought were £13 each. Couldn't say what make they were. Trackrodendsanonymous, most likely

bigjl2 · Post by **bigjl2** » 25 Mar 2008, 20:21

My xantia is on the original trackrod ends, in fact everything appears original, and I have the full history, even down to bulbs and wiper blades.
I reckon the life of them depends on usage and environment, what are the roads like were you drive?

Post by **RichardW** » 26 Mar 2008, 07:42

I've replaced quite a few in the last few years - my current Xantia has only 62k on it, but the N/S one has play in it, and the O/S one has a split boot - need to change both before it can be MOT'd.

The roads round here are pretty rough, but I wonder if it's more to do with unsympathetic drivers winding the steering round when it's stood still.

Lucifer · Post by **Lucifer** » 26 Mar 2008, 15:30

Well the local roads are a mess so that will probably explain things regarding the track rod end

Still getting the flat / bumpy spot on the steering so I worked in reverse and checked all the things that had changed in the last month.

Checked brakes as replaced a front calliper recently and wondered if I had been getting binding e.g. warped disk but all ok.

Checked lower joint on steering rack as I’ve had issues with it before (all ok )

So though I would swap the tires (front to rear) and problem now gone .... strange as I had the tire balance redone about a week ago and made no difference

So from this I can only assume one of the tires must have a bulge (but cant see anything wrong)

Post by **Peter.N.** » 26 Mar 2008, 19:28

My experience with XM's is that the track rod ends seem to last almost indefinitly. My current car has had one in 170k and I have only ever fitted one other in 13 years of XM ownership. So I think you must have some dodgy parts. I have to drive along a forest track every time I go in and out, so mine don't have an easy life.

lolingram · Post by **lolingram** » 28 Mar 2008, 11:21

My experience is that IF the rubbers are of top quality, and the joints well charged with quality grease, these last forever...

My experience with XM's is that the track rod ends seem to last almost indefinitly. My current car has had one in 170k and I have only ever fitted one other in 13 years of XM ownership. So I think you must have some dodgy parts.

Post by **Peter.N.** » 28 Mar 2008, 22:19

This problem has just turned up on club-xm so it seems to be pretty general. The problem there also is failure of the rubber boot.

RugbyPete · Post by **RugbyPete** » 31 Mar 2008, 12:31

my rack ends also looked good despite being 12 years old.

Galant ones failed at 100k, ide expect 100k from most cars, although im doing 130k