I am haveing difficultly getting hold of the correct rack end/track rod for my PAS steering rack, the one i bought has a female thread for the rack side, however my rack has a female thread so i need one with a male thread. I have tried numerous autofactors with none having the right one and no sign of alternatives. Does anyone know what racks where fitted to the 360? or know of where I can get the right one?

Any clue would be helpful, I have had a google and it was fruitless

Thanks
Chris

Any pics?

Might be a cause for getting a few knocked up.

Have you tried GSF? They sold me correct track rod ends

Speedy, I think Evoman is talking about the "towing link" or "steering rod" as Volvo refer to them (or "rack end", "tie rod", "track rod"), rather than the T.R.E.


Volvo_300_PAS_steering_rod.jpg by macplaxton, on Flickr


Volvo_300_non_PAS_steering_rod.jpg by macplaxton, on Flickr

As you can see from the pics, the inner end of the rod on a PAS car is male threaded (making it male threaded both ends) compared to the female/male of the later non-PAS version. Earlier non-PAS I think are male/male.

Anyway, if it's something to go on (Obsolete Part on the VIDA), number 29 is 3343464

Now once you have a cup of tea with plenty of sugar in it and a seat, read on: http://www.volvo300mania.com/forum-uk/v ... f=5&t=6720

Ahh I see, I did think it was weird that it had a different thread. Would it not be quite easy to get one done at an engineering shop?

Problem is, they are really easy to "recon" (bodge). The ball joint housing often gets hit by a punch just to tighten it up in three places, giving you a point contact that wears really fast.

Great for the polishers who don't drive apart from to shows, but for the rest of us...

TRW used to manufacture those but their online catalog says "discontinued" for the PAS ones.

One which is worth to check is Radaelli Ricambi. Even though it's an Italian manufacturer, the parts are surprisingly good. Many Italian automotive joints aren't as good.

I've had Radaelli Ricambi tie rods (non-PAS) in my GLT for four years now and no problems.

http://www.redaelliricambi.it/english/catalogue2.asp They list the PAS tie rods also in their catalog but there is no field which would tell if those are still produced. But the part numbers are there so you probably can check from your local parts shop if they can order those.

One good thing to do with every automotive joint before installing is to take of the rubber boots and add more grease. The amount of grease they put in the automotive joints on the factory nowadays is ridicilously small. It's a cheap way to increase the joint durability.


-Marko

Fuse wrote:http://www.redaelliricambi.it/english/catalogue2.asp They list the PAS tie rods also in their catalog but

Marko, I can't see them on either their PDF or web catalogues only early and late non-PAS.

I wouldn't worry about the year model listed as it's wrong in every 300-series part in that catalouge.

02/1976 > 07/1971

Here's a direct link on.

http://www.redaelliricambi.it/english/c ... colo=9-306

But I don't know if it's available, you'll have to ask.

-Marko

Ok my mistake, that does seem to be a male-male tie rod for early non-PAS by looking at the OEM part code reference.

I thought that every male-male track rods are for PAS.

So are the rack side threads on early non-PAS male-male tie rods different or does the length of the rod differ much from male-male PAS tie rod? Because if the thread on the rack side is same I don't see why you couldn't fit the male-male non-PAS part.

But like stated earlier, it should't be a too difficult job for a machinist shop to make an adapter to fit either one of those track rods in place if necessary. Length shouldn't b a problem as you can adjust it quite a bit from tie rod end side.


-Marko

Fuse wrote:Ok my mistake, that does seem to be a male-male tie rod for early non-PAS by looking at the OEM part code reference.

Yes, that was what I was saying.

Fuse wrote:So are the rack side threads on early non-PAS male-male tie rods different or does the length of the rod differ much from male-male PAS tie rod? Because if the thread on the rack side is same I don't see why you couldn't fit the male-male non-PAS part.

A possibility, but has anyone got an early rack end to measure handy? I've probably got one, but it's on a car in use.

If it is possible, then it is probably better to modify / make a batch of them.

The discontinued one on the TRW site is an early non-PAS tie rod. Looking at the GKN/Spidan online catalogue shows the two remaining tie rods as "to be discontinued".

Had a rummage in the shed...

From all the pictures I can see of the early non-PAS rod, it is no good as it does not have the collar for staking against the rack.

Below are the steering rack ends that I removed earlier from a PAS rack.


Steering tie rod 1 by macplaxton, on Flickr


Steering tie rod 2 by macplaxton, on Flickr

There seems to be two of the earlier non-PAS male-male tie rods in stock at the local parts store so I'll go tomorrow and check out if it's similiar or not.

Fuse wrote:so I'll go tomorrow and check out if it's similiar or not.

That would be most helpful, thanks.

As far as I can see, the only difference between the early non-PAS and PAS arms is the non-PAS does not have this stepped collar.


DSCF5746a.JPG by macplaxton, on Flickr

The PAS arm is 290mm from end to end.

Thanks for all the info guys!

I had a look through a quintem hazzel parts catalogue this afternoon and "see" to have found the right one, i will order it in work and see what it looks like when it turns up. It appears that PAS has a different one to non PAS?