Steering linkage ripped out

[RandyNavarro]

Crashed.

This steering linkage ball pulled out of the joint (correct part name?)

Any way to get this back in or will I have to get a whole new rack and pinion set?

 

[anickode]

You MIGHT be able to put it back together.

Either forcing it with a hydraulic press (similar to popping a dislocated shoulder back in)

Or if you don't have one, get a block of dry ice and a foam cooler. Smash up the dry ice and bury the ball in it. Thoroughly degrease the socket and put it in the oven at 500 degrees for an hour. Using a good pair of welding gloves or silicone oven mitts, QUICKLY try to push the ball into the socket. A few taps with a heavy hammer may be necessary. The ball will shrink from the cold and the socket will expand from the heat, and it might be enough to make them go back together. Maybe. Worth a try if you haven't got a press. We do interference fit parts like this all the time at work, but I've not tried it on this type of ball joint before.

If it works, you'll have to get some grease back in there. If it hasn't got a zerk, just start applying grease to the ball and rolling the socket around on it. Lather rinse repeat, till you can wipe the exposed part of the ball clean, and when you roll it around, it comes out greasy.

---------- Post added at 07:26 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:54 PM ----------

Is that plastic inside there? I can't really tell from the pic. If so, disregard my hot/cold suggestion.

 

[RandyNavarro]

Thanks anickode.

May have to do that but it sounds pretty iffy.

Any idea what those yellow-colored "liners" are inside the socket?

 

[mckutzy]

That might be an acetal joint bushing...

 

[Ebrownie]

Thanks anickode.

May have to do that but it sounds pretty iffy.

Eh that's what you do to install bearings into my kart engine (Honda cr80), because they have a slight interference fit, as was mentioned. Except for the case is aluminum so I only heat it up to 250 and freeze the bearings at 0 degrees Fahrenheit. This will probably require more heat difference though because it's not meant to pop out.