Im almost done putting my sc back together and getting it to run, and I ran into a problem. I cant get the screw on the steering rack to go into its hole in the knuckle

for those that may need a quick visual reminder of what I'm talking about


The ball joint screw just wont go in the hole, i've soaked both the screw and the hole in pb blaster. Tried using everything from a rubber hammer and sledge hammer to get it in damn thing just wont budge into the hole

any ideas?

 

You may need a new tie rod end as it sounds as if you hit the rod end out with a hammer and mushroomed the end of the threads.

 

If I'm not mistaken I believe the bolt of the tie rod ball joint is inserted from the bottom to the top, with the nut and cotter pin above the steering knuckle

 

^this^

 

But if the end is mushroomed then the problem will still exsist even though the hole is slightly tapered but not going to get a nut on there without some serious work.

 

thanks guys I figured i had to be doing some thing wrong

the tapped end is mushroomed but not that bad but i need to clean up the threads anyone know what size this bolt is?

 

Yep goes from the bottom up. Just did this.