Track rod end boot question

[tomti]

Hi all,

I've just replaced some of the wheel studs on my 2-door and thought, while I was there, that I'd swap out a dodgy-looking track rod end boot. I've successfully taken off the old locknut, broken the taper, removed and replaced the boot and tightened the whole thing up with a new locknut.

I have a couple of questions - one trivial and one more important - that I hope someone can help me with.

First (and least important) - it took me AGES to get the top circlip into the right place. Is there a trick/clever special tool for this - I'm sure it can't be that hard!

Second, and something I'm keen to know for safety reasons - is there any way of knowing how tight to do up the locknut? I've done it up as tight as I can while stopping the steering from moving with my free hand - is that enough or should some more elaborate method be used to get it tighter?

Thanks in anticipation!

-Tom

[bmcecosse]

Not all boots have circlips - and that sounds tight enough to me !

[tomti]

Great - thank you!

-Tom