How do I fix this?

I thought I replace the track rod ends today, thinking that it'd be a simple job.

The old ones came off with no problem what so ever and I went to fit the new ones and that's where it's all gone wrong. The new ones (Topran) were tight so I gently wet-n-dried and cleaned the inside of the threads of the first one and screwed it on. I had to use a small wrench but as it was new stuff onto 35 year old stuff, I wasn't surprised

I did the same with the second but it jammed solid and I ended up having to get a long piece of tube on the end of the wrench to get the thing off. The thread on the inside of the track rod is 'clean' so obviously somethings even less right on this one but the problem I now have is that the end of the steering rack thread is also stuffed and nothing is going back on there.



So what can I do, if anything or do I now need to buy a new rack (and another track rod end)?

Just out of curiosity what year is your car. I only ask as I've just been looking at racks and a new one would be about £65.  If you car is 74/77 there's an even better bargain available.

Sounds like the track rods are the wrong ones.

Sounds like you had either wrong or just 💩 tie rods. As a last ditch Attempt to save the rack, I would use a pick to clean any metal out of the threads. Put some valve lapping paste on the threads and wind your lock nut back and forth over the damaged threads to see if cleans them up.

In theory you could run a tap through the old threads of the steering rack, but if it didn't fit and you turned and turned it with force until you jammed in the wrong-fitting part, it could have mashed the threads up too badly.

Paul, it would be a "die" he would need, which wouldn't work anyway because he would never get it started straight. You can buy split dies or thread  chasers, so you can start it behind the damage. The tool would probably cost more than a new rack

Yeah, a die. I suspect, for that size, you'd be unlikely to have one and it would be a PITA anyway. I don't know why you kept screwing it in to do the damage….

I see it time and time over, parts are wrong! They need checking with old and new before you fit them.

New rack time.

You might be able to use a thread file to clean up the end of the rack then get a new track rod as that one might be wrong and is no good anymore.

The track rods should screw on by hand and the locking nut holds them in place.

Topran stuff is not the best quality out there.

Thread file something like this.

https://www.eurocarparts.com/search/538774981?type=shopping&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI78nm_tHw6QIVmKztCh3ghAOiEAQYAyABEgKSQvD_BwE

It’s hard to tell from a picture how good whats left on the steering rack and if you feel it’s unsafe and not going to hold the track rod buy a new rack, you don’t want the track rod to come off the steering rack when going down the motorway or turning hard around a fast bend…..

A new steering rack is under £100 and that’s cheaper than a new car or serious injury.

Topran is reasonable quality stuff (but not OEM), but if its the wrong part and a different thread size, it won't fit. Does it have any identifying labels or part numbers on it?

Many parts suppliers are quite sloppy at labelling/storing stuff and mistakes happen all the time, they just rely on lots of people not bothering to send it back etc or parts don't get around to be fitted. So its quite possible the wrong part (even if it had the right label) was supplied etc.

They are supposedly the right ones and I know that sometimes you have to tweak new parts to make them fit a bit but I think that these are just carp.

Anyway I tried the locking nut and not a chance so I'll just have to buy a new rack and another set of track rods. It was one of those "why did I do that??' moments and hind sight is a wonderful thing,.. (I'm not a complete idiot, parts of me are missing  

Thanks for all your replies