Hello everyone,
My new tie rods units arrived and two items have come to my attention.
How to determine the correct placement (inside vs outside). The new units have a pressed on anodized cap holding the boot cover in place on one end and the opposite end features an upper and lower pair of metal spring wraps on the boot cover. I notice the new center link has only the pressed caps. Should I pair the similar caps on the tie rods and the center link?
The second issue concerns one of the new units. Upon running the tie rods in, I noticed that one of them stopped well short (5/8") of turning all the way in. Both the 2 older units and the second new one easliy thread all the way in on both ends. It would seem that the one is defective by being short threaded unless I am mistaken. The vendor involved claimed to have never heard of this and said to return the complete unit. I've got three completely full roll around tool boxes, but a left handed metric tap and die set is stretching it a bit.
Simple,I know, but getting it right is what matters.
Thanks, Jim Hayes
Tie rod questions
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ventura ace
Re: Tie rod questions
How much thread was showing on the old ones before you took them apart? If it was somewhat more than 5/8", then I wouldn't worry about it. For a preliminary adjustment, you should thread the new ones in to very close to the same dimension as the ones you took off, and the final adjustment should only be a turn or two at the most from that point (assuming that you had correct alignment previously).
If the old ones were threaded in less than the 5/8", then I'd send the discrepant part back to the Vendor for replacement.
Alvon
If the old ones were threaded in less than the 5/8", then I'd send the discrepant part back to the Vendor for replacement.
Alvon
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HH5053
Re: Tie rod questions
Thanks for your interest, Alvon.
You response does address exactly my concern about the thread in length. Looking over both originals, all the ends are threaded in well beyond where the new, but suspect part bottomed out, ranging from zero with no threads showing to no more than 1/4". Matching up the new units to the old is how I discovered the discrepancy in the first place. Starting out with that 5/8" thread in with no chance of further inward adjustment doesn't seem to get it as that could be critical when a new alignment takes place, so back to the vendor it will go.
Any thoughts on which end of the new units pair to the center link as per my original question.
Thanks very much, Jim
You response does address exactly my concern about the thread in length. Looking over both originals, all the ends are threaded in well beyond where the new, but suspect part bottomed out, ranging from zero with no threads showing to no more than 1/4". Matching up the new units to the old is how I discovered the discrepancy in the first place. Starting out with that 5/8" thread in with no chance of further inward adjustment doesn't seem to get it as that could be critical when a new alignment takes place, so back to the vendor it will go.
Any thoughts on which end of the new units pair to the center link as per my original question.
Thanks very much, Jim
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ventura ace
Re: Tie rod questions
Jim, mine are all threaded in to roughly 1/4" showing. You would want them to be showing equal amounts on both ends, if installed properly. A good procedure would be to thread in until no threads showing, then thread both ends out an equal amount to get to the desired preliminary setting.
My inners and outers look different from each other, too. When I swapped mine out, I likely put them in exactly as the ones that I removed, but I can't recall whether the outers or inners are the left hand thread. It probably really doesn't matter, but I'd put the outers matched (left or right hand thread), and the inners matched. On mine, the outers have a rounded shape on the under side of the ball joint, and the inners have more of flat shape on the under side of the ball joint, if that means anything.
Alvon
My inners and outers look different from each other, too. When I swapped mine out, I likely put them in exactly as the ones that I removed, but I can't recall whether the outers or inners are the left hand thread. It probably really doesn't matter, but I'd put the outers matched (left or right hand thread), and the inners matched. On mine, the outers have a rounded shape on the under side of the ball joint, and the inners have more of flat shape on the under side of the ball joint, if that means anything.
Alvon
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HH5053
Re: Tie rod questions
Alvon, your suggested procedure mirrors how I proceeded on this one and which led to the discovery of the short tapped sleeve in the first place. Once I get the one unit replaced, I will fill the sleeves with grease, expose the same amount of threading as per the originals and install, matching end for end, side to side. The two styles of boot retainers make this simple enough as the boot retainers on one end of the tie rods and the center link match. Perhaps to help eliminate mixing things up?
My inners and outers are slightly different as well in both the lower cup designs and boot retainers.
The one short tapped sleeve just threw a wrench into what should have been a monkey see, monkey do operation.
This is what all of you have to look forward to as you approach my age: Three things happen when you get older and the first thing is that the mind goes and I've forgotten what the other two are.
Thanks again, Jim hayes
My inners and outers are slightly different as well in both the lower cup designs and boot retainers.
The one short tapped sleeve just threw a wrench into what should have been a monkey see, monkey do operation.
This is what all of you have to look forward to as you approach my age: Three things happen when you get older and the first thing is that the mind goes and I've forgotten what the other two are.
Thanks again, Jim hayes