Replacement Tie Rod ends?

[flyboy71]

I boogered up the threads on the spindle end of the steering linkage by trying to remove it from the spindle with a BFH wihtout spinning a nut on first. Can the threaded part, whatever its called, be replaced? Where can I get one? How hard is it to replace?

[FORDification]

That piece you're pointing to doesn't come out of the tie-rod end...you'll have to replace it as an assembly. When you buy them, this is typical of what you'll get:



You simply need to loosen the nut holding the adjusting sleeve to that tie-rod end and screw the tie-rod end out, being absolutely certain to count the number of revolutions you turn to remove. Then when you install the new one, you simply screw the new one in the same number of turns and tighten the adjusting sleeve. That'll get you close enough to drive to the alignment shop for the mandatory re-alignment.

[flyboy71]

Thanks Keith! What I have is a 79 front end that I grabbed to put disks on my 71 so the alignment will be out for sure. Ill take a look at them and see if I can figure it out.

[fordman]

i have a used one of those. which side is it from if it matters. im thinking it doesnt. i will have to check on the condition of them. it is off of a 78/79 i got the front end out of at the junk yard. it was a f250 cs of somesort.

[flyboy71]

Mine seems to be all one piece. Im not sure how the replacement part goes onto there. Call me confused.

[ToughOldFord]

That's the long side, the other side is way shorter. The adjuster sleeve is where they attach.

[70_F100]

Mine seems to be all one piece. Im not sure how the replacement part goes onto there. Call me confused.

As Keith stated in his post, the one in the picture is "typical", meaning that the ball joint end will be complete as shown, and the other end will be threaded. He doesn't address length in his post.

Your photo, apparently, is the driver's side.

The outer tie rod end is about 18" long, IIRC. The short end will be opposite end, which is very similar to the one in Keith's photo. It attaches to the drag link. There is a threaded sleeve with two clamps near the inner tie rod end. Loosen the bolts holding the clamps, and the tie rod ends can be unscrewed, as Keith explained.

If the passenger side needs to be replaced, you will have to have the entire drag link, which runs from the pitman arm (on the steering box) to the right side spindle.

Here's the illustration from this site:
http://www.fordification.com/tech/image ... eams03.jpg

Edit:

Sorry TOF, I was typing my response as you were posting. GMTA!!

[flyboy71]

Ok I think its the drag link that Ill need to replace. The edge is mushroomed over a bit from pounding on it. Its possible I can try to run a threading die on it and salvage the two or three bad threads but who knows.

[ToughOldFord]

Edit:

Sorry TOF, I was typing my response as you were posting. GMTA!!

Not a problem, your answer had much more detail anyway.