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[chrisdb]

Hi, does anyone know what symptoms I would experience if the gator around the tie rod bearing (the one that goes through the steering ider) was leaking?

[Broomies Mate]

Wandering Steering,
Clunks over Bumps
Steering wheel physically moving left/right under heavy braking.

[chrisdb]

That's great, thanks.

[feeutfo]

Torn gator alone won't affect anything at all, however the gator keeps the weather out which ultimately can give the symptoms above if the ball joint wears.

Both issues are an Mot fail though.

Wondering if all the ball joint gators are the same? i.e. as on the wishbone ball joint. Breaking the joint aside it's easy enough to swap the gator for a good one....?  Anyone?

[henryd]

Torn gator alone won't affect anything at all, however the gator keeps the weather out which ultimately can give the symptoms above if the ball joint wears.

Both issues are an Mot fail though.

Wondering if all the ball joint gators are the same? i.e. as on the wishbone ball joint. Breaking the joint aside it's easy enough to swap the gator for a good one....?  Anyone?

the little gators are'nt a fail at the moment but looks like they will be in the near future

[chrisdb]

Thanks. At the moment the only symptoms I have is vibration above 70mph but I was not sure if that was the balancing. I noticed the gator when I changed the drop links. The car was fine until I took it for an MOT at Kwik-fit. They put it on the ramps and then made the car start jumping and bouncing. It failed on a broken rear coil spring which I replaced and then it passed, however driving home I felt something was not right, which turned out to be both wishbones knackered - also drop links knackered which I've replaced. I'll probably replace the tie rod too in the next few weeks.

Incidentally, after doing the rear coil springs I took it to Northamptom Motorsports to get the alignment done. They were really good and did the wishbones for me too, but I still find, after getting the alignment done the car still does not drive straight. Even going to WIM three times fails to make it drive straight. Left alone it veers to the left and to keep a straight line I have to turn the wheel around 5 degrees to the right - it's very annoying. Strange thing is that the guy at NMS did a test drive after the alignment and commented that it drove straight...  :-?