Suzuki Club UK

Both ball joints on the tie rod of my samurai have a bit of play in them.

i can only find the ball joint on one side to buy new. Is the other permanently fixed to the tie rod?

I guess this means i need a new tie bar, can the tie bar from a jimny be used? as with these you can replace both ends.

thanks.

edd

Yes, the other end is permanently fixed into the tie rod! It's a bit annoying, especially as a new tie rod is several hundred quid!

Although, a lot of the play is unnoticeable once you have a decent tie rod end on the drivers side! Did mine for the MOT and the guy had a good look at it and thought it was OK

One way round this is to cut 2 tie rods in half and rejoin, replaceable ends on each end. Before you have a go!!!!!!! Take a spare drag link, cut off both ends and clean off ALL the paint. This is now a perfect interferance fit into the tie rod and will need to be pressed in 9I used a 50t press using 40-50% of available pressure. I V'd out the outer tube and TIG'd the join. It ends up stronger than the original and both ends are replaceable.

If you do not feel this is safe don't do it, if you do not trust your welding 100% don't do it, if you do not have access to a press don't do it.

I wouldn't do that on the road... you're not really allowed to chop and weld your steering components!!!

It was only used off road (at 70+ mph)

Hahah I'm sure yours held up ok Tim!!!

What I meant was the MOT man might not be so keen on welded steering

Thanks for your help.

I changed the ball joint on the one side and that has made a huge improvement for now.

I think it was the original ball joint, it took a lot of heat before it finally decided it was ready to come off!