Tie Rod end options...... bump steer kit??
#1
Race Director
Thread Starter
Tie Rod end options...... bump steer kit??
So a customer's car need outer tie rod ends.... bet you can't guess why!
Anyway, tie rod ends have gotten expensive, so much so that it is just as cheap to buy Zip's bump steer ends instead. No so much as a performance upgrade, just something that won't melt.
Anybody done this, have an opinion one way or another.
btw, can't find VBP's tie rod ends, their site is being very hard to navigate. Mood ends are $64 at Rock Auto.
Anyway, tie rod ends have gotten expensive, so much so that it is just as cheap to buy Zip's bump steer ends instead. No so much as a performance upgrade, just something that won't melt.
Anybody done this, have an opinion one way or another.
btw, can't find VBP's tie rod ends, their site is being very hard to navigate. Mood ends are $64 at Rock Auto.
#4
Team Owner
yes but why have a web site? Web sites are nice because they are 24 x 7 and during the week it is hard to do stuff like on the weekend. I like VBP but the web site doesn't let you find tie rod ends for a C5 or 6 mean web master needs flogged! I see sometimes companies make a new web site and it is worse.
#5
Race Director
So a customer's car need outer tie rod ends.... bet you can't guess why!
Anyway, tie rod ends have gotten expensive, so much so that it is just as cheap to buy Zip's bump steer ends instead. No so much as a performance upgrade, just something that won't melt.
Anybody done this, have an opinion one way or another.
btw, can't find VBP's tie rod ends, their site is being very hard to navigate. Mood ends are $64 at Rock Auto.
Anyway, tie rod ends have gotten expensive, so much so that it is just as cheap to buy Zip's bump steer ends instead. No so much as a performance upgrade, just something that won't melt.
Anybody done this, have an opinion one way or another.
btw, can't find VBP's tie rod ends, their site is being very hard to navigate. Mood ends are $64 at Rock Auto.
Here's a thread I started a while ago when I found play in a rod end.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/auto...-end-last.html
You can get fronts (MOOG) from Rock Auto but I could not find QUALITY rears anywhere.
Rears are about an inch longer (on my car).
I talked with a guy at VBP & he can't get rears either (that are Vette specific).
He suggested BS kit.
I am going to go with Baer bump steer kit.
You might be able to make your own from parts from a company like Aurora or Midwest.
http://www.midwestcontrol.com/series.php?id=180
Last edited by froggy47; 04-02-2011 at 01:44 PM.
#7
Safety Car
I bought some heavy duty rears from Ecklers. It took them about 1 month to send them, I wasn't really happy about that, and they didn't answer any of my emails for several weeks.
In any case, I just installed one, it is about 3/8 " longer than the stock tie rod end. They have zerk fittings and come with a castle nut with a cotter pin.
Part # was 39964 $44.99
Tim
In any case, I just installed one, it is about 3/8 " longer than the stock tie rod end. They have zerk fittings and come with a castle nut with a cotter pin.
Part # was 39964 $44.99
Tim
#9
Le Mans Master
So a customer's car need outer tie rod ends.... bet you can't guess why!
Anyway, tie rod ends have gotten expensive, so much so that it is just as cheap to buy Zip's bump steer ends instead. No so much as a performance upgrade, just something that won't melt.
Anybody done this, have an opinion one way or another.
btw, can't find VBP's tie rod ends, their site is being very hard to navigate. Mood ends are $64 at Rock Auto.
Anyway, tie rod ends have gotten expensive, so much so that it is just as cheap to buy Zip's bump steer ends instead. No so much as a performance upgrade, just something that won't melt.
Anybody done this, have an opinion one way or another.
btw, can't find VBP's tie rod ends, their site is being very hard to navigate. Mood ends are $64 at Rock Auto.
I have been buying them used from Vettenuts...
#10
Race Director
It's a different part front & rear (I think) as are the oem ones.
Of course the "height" of the pin is adjustable with shims to get the alignment back to level for lowered cars.
I have not got one yet so this is all from description.
If you search the forum you may get a hit on someone who has installed them.
http://www.jegs.com/i/Baer-Brake/136...oductId=759921
I would call Baer direct & talk to them.
Last edited by froggy47; 04-03-2011 at 08:20 PM.
#11
Racer
Member Since: Aug 2008
Location: Lyndhurst Ohio
Posts: 377
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
#13
Team Owner
Did you read the section here on tie rod ends?
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/auto...e-learned.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/auto...e-learned.html
As for the tie rod ends for front (http://www.vbandp.com/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=396) and rear (http://www.vbandp.com/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=397), you can not go wrong with the Vette Brake Products (VBP) heavy duty units. Make sure you also order the polycovers for them (2 sets for full car) which will keep crap out of them and make them last longer / also resist heat better to avoid dry rot from heat/oil. Since the ends are stiffer they will also hold your track camber/toes setting better & have a limited lifetime guarentee! I used a speed clip for the special nuts the tie rod ends came with, and not a cotter pin. So if I need to get in and out of them later its easier. Oh yeah, its got its own nut and the OEM will not work.
#14
Safety Car
I bought some heavy duty rears from Ecklers. It took them about 1 month to send them, I wasn't really happy about that, and they didn't answer any of my emails for several weeks.
In any case, I just installed one, it is about 3/8 " longer than the stock tie rod end. They have zerk fittings and come with a castle nut with a cotter pin.
Part # was 39964 $44.99
Tim
In any case, I just installed one, it is about 3/8 " longer than the stock tie rod end. They have zerk fittings and come with a castle nut with a cotter pin.
Part # was 39964 $44.99
Tim
How are you guys checking for play in the fronts? When I grab my wheel at 3 and 9 and try and move it laterally I can see my steering wheel turning a smidge... so any perceived "play" is really me moving the steering system.
The rears are fixed so if you have movement then you know you have wear. So far I've never had issues with the stockers so long as you wrap them with DEI cool-tape.
The BS kit looks like a good option given the price of replacements these days.
#15
Le Mans Master
Did you read the section here on tie rod ends?
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/auto...e-learned.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/auto...e-learned.html
You've posted that link 5 times today alone - before noon.
.
Last edited by sperkins; 04-04-2011 at 12:45 PM.
#16
Safety Car
I got in a jamb and had to use a pickle-fork on my RR and cut the boot. Used one of these and it worked great... I still wrapped it in DEI cool-tape to keep the heat off of it, but it's a good bit more robust than the OEM boot.
I purchased them from Summit.
#17
Safety Car
Zenak how can we take your post serioulsy when you have no information on the most important safety upgrade ever.... titanium lugnuts.
Last edited by travisnd; 04-04-2011 at 01:37 PM.
#18
Race Director
Thread Starter
Going with the ZIP bump steer kit. I have a set of the Energy boots, but am afraid the rod ends are beyond salvage at this point. The BS kit is about the same as 2 moog rod ends, so it seems like a no brainer. I'm not planning on doing a full BS assessment on the car, just set them near stock, although that would be a great project for another day.
I'll post info on the install once they show up.
I'll post info on the install once they show up.
#19
Team Owner
Energy suspension makes a poly balljoint boot for our cars.... they're made for C4s, but work fine for C5s and C6s. Come in handy if you booger up a boot and don't want to buy a new balljoint (I think they make them for rod ends too).
I got in a jamb and had to use a pickle-fork on my RR and cut the boot. Used one of these and it worked great... I still wrapped it in DEI cool-tape to keep the heat off of it, but it's a good bit more robust than the OEM boot.
I purchased them from Summit.
I got in a jamb and had to use a pickle-fork on my RR and cut the boot. Used one of these and it worked great... I still wrapped it in DEI cool-tape to keep the heat off of it, but it's a good bit more robust than the OEM boot.
I purchased them from Summit.
I know I bought them 9 years ago. Why would anyone need them for new tie rod ends?
#20
Team Owner
and many things when asked are linked to that post that are inaccurate for newbies to read. Before someone makes a post like that they need to be an authority on race cars like Lou G. or the likes.