Series 3 steering overhaul

[Fhill]

Had an mot fail today on steering so have decided to do a complete overhaul . My question is are all the 6 ball joints on the steering mechanism the same . ie the ones on the track rod and the ones on the drop arm ,top relay lever.

[Snagger]

Sort of - you have three left hand thread, and three right hand, but they are otherwise the same. HOWEVER, there were changes over the years in the threads - early ones had Imperial thread with a solid section at the top end where the outer clamp sits on the tube, they were superseded by a type with the same thread that extends all the way to the ball joint itself, and later by metric threads (full length). They are not cross-compatible, even on the Imperial type (you cannot fit the full threaded Imperial type to the shouldered tubes as the clamp will not act correctly, even though that combination will physically fit), so you need to find out what type are on your vehicle. Don't assume they are all the same, either, as a different replacement rod and ends may have been fitted in the past.

[artwigwa]

Snagger, what's the phiscal difference between shouldered and non shouldered tubes? Just that I did my ball joints recently and wondering if I fitted corect ones on my s3 71. Thanks

[Snagger]

Look inside the tubes - if they're threaded all the way to the end, then you need fully threaded rod ends, if the first 1/2-3/4" is smooth, then you need the shouldered rod ends.

[Cornish Rattler]

Or fit H/D steering rods that come complete with new ball joints then just replace the ball joints in the drag link which is what I am going to do with the s11a rebuild we are about to start.

Graham