Two Xantia Rack Questions

addo · Post by **addo** » 20 Sep 2011, 11:21

Given my recent tyre wear adventures...

(1.) I am looking at beg/borrow/steal one of those offset cam type splined tools to grab and unscrew the inner rod end in-situ. Anyone tried this on a Xantia?

(2.) Rack boots - are cable ties suitable (given the radiant exhaust heat) or is Ligarex preferred for longer life?

Thanks, Adam.

jgra1 · Post by **jgra1** » 20 Sep 2011, 11:30

hi Adam,,, I did an in-situ Xant inner track rod at Jim's recently.. it was pretty straightforward using only 'normal' tools.. once I had a decent grip and a sharp rap of the hammer it came undone pretty easy. So, a 20 minute job once the wheel was off

addo · Post by **addo** » 20 Sep 2011, 12:02

Did you cable tie or strap the boot back on?

Post by **CitroJim** » 20 Sep 2011, 12:39

After-market ones come with cable ties Adam, perfectly adequate as there's a fair lip on the end of the rack casting that initially makes the boot 'fun' to get over but serves well to hold it once it is...

Stilsons are a bit big in the head but John got by using one of these fellers:

A Footprint Spanner

They look crude but by golly they deliver. Hope they're available down your way because they're great...

Note they come in a wide variety of sizes. I have a set of three.

jgra1 · Post by **jgra1** » 20 Sep 2011, 12:42

the thank yee God’s

.. yep that's what I used Adam..

addo · Post by **addo** » 20 Sep 2011, 12:51

So the rack end doesn't have a single flat or opposing flats milled onto it? Just wondering about possible harm to the pinion from torquing up the threaded end...

This is the tool I've been eyeing off:

Post by **CitroJim** » 20 Sep 2011, 12:58

Nope, not so far as I'm aware Adam, the rack twists a tad but nothing untoward... If there are flats anywhere for this purpose they're well hidden...

That tool looks good. I especially like the 'Hello Kitty' on it - very cute

dnsey · Post by **dnsey** » 20 Sep 2011, 20:18

Yep, Footprints are a good traditional tool.
Amazing how useful many such 'blacksmith' tools are, but are rarely recommended these days. Mind you, in the wrong hands, they can make a right mess

rory_perrett · Post by **rory_perrett** » 20 Sep 2011, 22:10

addo wrote:So the rack end doesn't have a single flat or opposing flats milled onto it? Just wondering about possible harm to the pinion from torquing up the threaded end...

This is the tool I've been eyeing off:

Was looking at these a while ago before I did my track rods, Laser do one which is part number 3829 Inner Tie Rod Tool. According to the Laser technical dept (who were very efficient at replying to my question, real good customer service) the hole in the tool through which the track rod goes is 20mm diameter. The dia of the track rods on my HDi Xant are approx 22mm. Laser suggested Alternative tools see http://www.lasertools.co.uk/item.aspx?item=4225 or 5122.

These both have an internal diameter of 23.8mm.

However they are rather expensive if you are only doing the job once or twice. In the end I did them with mole grips and a hammer. I did cheat as I removed the lower wishbone to improve access which made the job really easy.

addo · Post by **addo** » 21 Sep 2011, 01:14

That's odd.

To begin with, I - like you - spotted the Laser 3829. I looked them (similar tools) up on Fleabay and vendors stated the inside bore was to cope with ends between 33 and 42mm. My Xantia's rod diameter is about 21mm (across hex points) and the 405 around 18mm.

So you'd think it ought to fit.

Hmm...

rory_perrett · Post by **rory_perrett** » 21 Sep 2011, 10:13

I believe the size quoted is for the diameter of the bit you are trying to grip ie socket bit that screws into the rack, on the Xantia this is about 33mm IIRC. The track rod itself has to pass through the smaller hole on the the cam type tools, looking at the photos I thought it looked too small, hence my e-mail to the Laser technical people. There are two sizes of track rod for the Xantia, my HDi and 2.1td have the larger (round) one and the 1.9td had the smaller hex one.