[pre-xk] trackrod ends

All,
My SS 3.5 litre saloon has just passed its MOT test, but the tester said
that there was some vertical movement on the trackrod end connecting the
drop arm to the steering connecting tube, and he recommended that it should
be replaced. In the parts manual it says that this trackrod end is not the
same as the offside trackrod end on the trackrod.

The relevant numbers are: Trackrod end on trackrod: 49575 (C1932), and
trackrod end on steering connecting tube: 49594 (C1934). Even the grease
nipple has a different part number. As far as I can see, the ones on the
car (and on a spare tube) are identical. Also, in the workshop manual the
diagram for the 1.5 litre has the same numbers for both the o/s trackrod
ends. Is there any reason for the difference on the 2.5/3.5 ones?

Denis Foxley

Is one of them a left hand thread? Are they also used on Standard?
FWIW, Mark V & XK120 parts are not the same part numbers, but the wisdom of
this list could be employed to investigate if they could be used on the
earlier cars.
Rob> The relevant numbers are: Trackrod end on trackrod: 49575 (C1932), and

trackrod end on steering connecting tube: 49594 (C1934).
Is there any reason for the difference on the 2.5/3.5 ones?

In reply to a message from R, J, G K Reilly sent Mon 23 May 2005:

I have in front of me a box by Quinton Hazell. No QR 205RHT and a
corresponding box QR 205LHT.

The RHT and LHT refer to the thread direction , not the side of
the car.

I think they were available , at least till quite recently… Angus
Murray sourced me this set.

The later tie rods from Mk5 and 120’s Re a larger diameter in the
body. So at a pinch they could be used on the drivers side of the
car but not on the passengers side where 2 tie rod ends must sit
adjacently.
The larger ones ., although having the same taper and thread,
require holes in the steering arm further apoart.
1 1/2 litre cars , and I suspect Standards had a smaller version
which is not interchangeable.

I have seen some on ebay which despite their description didn’t
seem to bear much resemblance to to what I would expect.

The idea of one LH and one RH thread was so that the toe -in could
be adjusted on the car with the rods in place.

While the track rods ends only wear in one plane, because they’re
on a relatively rigid axle, the one from the steering box will have
moved in all directions and be worn more uniformly.–
Ed Nantes SS
Melbourne, Australia
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The larger ones ., although having the same taper and thread,
require holes in the steering arm further apart.
Hi Ed,
I don’t really understand that sentence, but I don’t think it answers my
original question, which was why the T.R.E. on the end of the drop arm has a
different part number from it’s equivalent on the track rod. I have several
new sets, including QR205, and they all contain one left-hand thread and one
right-hand thread. The different makes all seem to have slightly different
diameter bodies, but the same taper and thread diameter and length. I can
see no difference between any of the ones on the car. Perhaps it was just
the one on the drop arm was originally larger as there was more space for
it?

Denis Foxley

In reply to a message from Denis Foxley sent Wed 25 May 2005:

Denis,
I’d guess that the larger tie rod end on the drop arm was larger
because at some stage it has been replaced by one from a MkV.

Sorry if I wasn’t clear… the MkV and 120 ends have the same taper
size and angle where they go into the arm and the same thread but
because the early cars have holes in the steering arm close
together, the later ends with larger bodies can not be installed so
close together.
I remember someone years ago getting a blacksmith to stretch the
steering arm at this point to fit the later ends. Not something I’d
want to do.
Measuring different batches of 205 tie rod ends I have noticed
slight variations in manufacture which means thay don’t have
absolutely identical bodies… but the are totally different to the
later ones.

There would be no problem using a later one on the side of the car
where it doesn’t have to share space on a steering arm.–
Ed Nantes SS
Melbourne, Australia
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