Bob_esper

first off and most importantly, i think my radiator may be leaking. what concerns me though is i just replaced it a year ago. i got a drip coming from the pass. side under the radiator. i checked the two hoses on the radiator and they are not leaking so is there anything else i could have missed.

i have a popping coming from the front end. my front axle u joint was bad so i replaced it but the noise is still there. i just checked and i can pretty freely rotate my tie rod end on my driver side. im guessing this is not normal.?

cpnwrench

howdy,

you should not be able to rotate the tie rod end.

also if you have a drip on pass side of coolant you may have a rock that might have somehow made it past the grill and the condenser etc etc and created a tiny leak. or the rad itself might have been fine initally, and then when installed due to pressure, heat, etc, a manufacturing defect could have surfaced and "pop", you have a crack or pinhole leak.

just a thought sir!

cpnwrench

Bob_esper

just to clarify, i am talking about the ball joint on the end of the tie rod, just wanna make sure before i go buy one lol.

good thing xjs are easy to work on lol. not really looking forward to dropping another radiator in though

Bob_esper

also how hard would it be to replace and not throw off the allignment?

BostonIrish

you'll need to count the threads when you remove it to get it in the same ballpark.You really should get a front end alignement after you replace components

fishtaconc

Look at the petcock IIRC its on the passenger side of the radiator before you oull it out, if not take it to a rad shop the can fix it beings its only an year old, might cost you $30-40.

Bob_esper

yeah i figured lol, just had the thing aligned a month ago.

cpnwrench

holy crap!

yer right, forgot about the drain ****.......

yeah, get that sucker as tight as you can with your hands anyway.

if it still leaks from there, drain the fluid, save it, check the threads on the drain **** to ensure they are not chewed up or look gnarly. mine is plastic and with that being said, it is very easy to muck up those threads if it is not installed right.
then check the condition of the threads on the hole where the drain **** threads into, make sure there is no dirt or crap built up on those threads.

whatever you do, do NOT put any thread sealer on that drain ****.

I tried teflon tape once, it worked for a while (year or so), but then i got a new radiator and that soved that problem.

just and idea on that

as for the tie-rod/ball joint......when one is installed on the vehicle you should not be able to rotate it by hand at all. if it does the adjusting nut has worked loose and your alignment will go/be off, or its gone bad and the tie-rod assy has to be replaced.

just a thought sir!

good luck!

cpnwrench

Bob_esper

i crawled under it and it does not seem like thats where it is leaking from, but i will tighten it uo if i can

waltermitty

Must have been an amateur at the alignment shop. Most front end guys check parts for wear BEFORE they do the alignment. Much safer for the customer, provides for a much better alignment, they get to sell/install more parts. ie: better for business all ways 'round.