Just been to get tracking done and turns out there are bent bits - advice please

[JBC27]

Just had two new front tyres put on (front left had really bad wear on the outter rim) and when they put it up on the ramp to check the tracking they spotted a bent rod which I think is the track rod. The guy tried to loosen it to sort the tracking out but it's suitably bent he couldn't do anything. Bought the car for 1k about 6 months ago and knew it had taken a knock at some point as the bumper had a small ding but the circumstances under which I bought the car didn't lend themselves to me giving the car a proper inspection, but that's neither here nor there at this stage.

What i'd like to know is how straight forward is it to replace the track rod and track rod end (or is it tie rod end...). They don't seem that expensive to buy, so might replace the track rods and ends on both sides. Any special tools required, useful tips, things not to do to cause more damage. Also if anyone has had a track rod replaced on their car how much labour did it involve as part of me thinks it might be best to get a mechanic to do it.

Cheers

 

[Fred@BTM]

i made a tool for doing the tie rods, pig to do with "the tool"

 

[Daniel]

i made a tool for doing the tie rods, pig to do with "the tool"

Do you mean without the tool? I'm confused.

 

[JBC27]

think Fred means with the renault approved tool, not the one he's made.

Fred B'ham isn't a million miles from Newport, if I was to bring the motor up to you would you be able to do the work and roughly how much would it cost for both sides?

 

[Fred@BTM]

yeah i mean without the tool its a pig to do

don't think renault sell a tool to do the job, they might though!

 

[SBV116]

^ they probably do, but it's no use...tats the normal score!

 

[JBC27]

hmm if it's a pig without a tool I don't have then I think I'll get someone who knows what they are doing to do it. Looks like its bread and water this month then lol

 

[dave_rudabar]

If it's so difficult to do them, what's the difference to other car's TREs?

 

[Fred@BTM]

what do you mean?

 

[Alastair.]

yeah i mean without the tool its a pig to do

don't think renault sell a tool to do the job, they might though!

yer we have the renault tool, slides over the trackrod and grips onto the ball joint part. Vauxhall next door to us are always borrowing it. Good bit of kit.

 

[JBC27]

Thats the bent thing on the right with a rubber gaitor at the far end. Anyone got an idea on a ballpark figure for replacing it??

View attachment 65485

 

[dave_rudabar]

what do you mean?

Just wondered if there's anything more difficult to the Clio ones than other cars, i.e. my old Focus was fairly straight forward, except for the fact everything was rusted to within an inch of it's life.

 

[Paddy_g46]

yer we have the renault tool, slides over the trackrod and grips onto the ball joint part. Vauxhall next door to us are always borrowing it. Good bit of kit.

pics of tool?

 

[Joe R26]

Renault do sell the tool. It comes in 3 bits and is 130 + vat iirc.

 

[Sean6545]

Its just a long metal sleeve with a sprag clutch to grip the ball joint either way.

 

[bmh.01]

Can pick up laser ones on ebay for £40 or so last time I looked.

 

[mr.pink87]

When i changed mine, i used a slim spanner on the inner balljoint (it had a slot for a spanner).