Track rod end

[CupraElliott]

How is this bolt here held inside?

I was taking it off and it was coming off fine and then suddenly came lose, like the bolt had snapped, but it hasn't. I think wherever it's connected inside, it's snapped from there.

Obviously I cant tighten it back up because the whole bolt just turns. So cut it off and get a new one or is it salvageable?

 

[Ricardo_Smooth]

new rod end i'm afraid mate

 

[IbizaAlex]

You need to put pressure on the top of the rod to stop the spinning part of the rod from spinning.

 

[Black TDI Turbo]

The inside of the track rod end is a ball inside with grease around it, it will move and spin, what you need to do is to use a lever bar to push the track rod up the put pressure on the bolt with will stop the ball spinning, put the track rod end back onto the track arm as this will make it much easier, ull just find the same if u get a new one.

 

[RUM4MO]

Aye, I've been there on a Polo 9n - a real pain in the bottom! Trick here - but too late for you, is to clean up the exposed end of the thread before starting this job. If you have any suitable clamps you should try to force the taper bit of the track rod end back into the steering arm and that should give you some friction/grip. Then tighten the nut back up fully to lock the track rod end swivel from turning. After that I'd get hold of a new nut (if you are reusing the track rod end) and a nut splitter. Try to clean up the exposed thread - maybe using a hacksaw blade or a swiss file, then slacken the nut off a bit and try to split it with the splitter. If that fails, then just start using the hacksaw to cut the nyloc top section off the track rod end retaining nut - lots of horizontal then vertical cuts to remove sections of it. I tend to agree with the suggestion that you might find it easier just to buy a new track rod end complete with nut and hacksaw that one off - it will be quicker if you can get hold off all the parts. My first suggestion means that you get the car back together and use it until you buy the new parts. Second suggestion lets you waste a lot of time and reuse the track rod end but with just buying a new nut. Third suggestion is really the way to go if you already have all the bits to hand. I ended up buying the big tap and die set from Screwfix (£55) and retapping the track rod end as I needed the car back on the road until more new bits could be ordered. Word of warning, VAG do not tend to use the "normal" metric thread sizes that you can buy nuts for in B&Q etc to get you back on the road - the tap and die set I listed covers both fine and coarse metric sizes though.

You might be able to "shock" that seized nut back up the thread a bit - so that it can be tightened back up - ring spanner on and a whack with a copper mallet - in a tightening direction!