davidfarmer

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.

John Shiels

your right that VBP web site sucks! I could not get to any C5 or later tie rod ends.

Jason

Easiest just to call them

John Shiels

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.

froggy47

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

davidfarmer

Is the BS kit (Baer zip) long/deep enough for front and rear? I'm just considering it since the moogs cost as much as the BS

Timz06

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

sperkins

Speaking of bump steer David - how bad is it on a stock C5 at the factory ride height?

varkwso

I have been buying them used from Vettenuts...

froggy47

The guy at VBP (I wish I could remember his name, he was a senior guy, like owner or partner) said it's a good kit. Front is different from back (as to overall length) as I said stock back end is longer by an inch.

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.

Joe_Knesek

Speedway Motors

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/search-heim.html

Zenak

Did you read the section here on tie rod ends?

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/auto...e-learned.html

John Shiels

The link does not work. What is a poly cover for a tie rod end? How does heat and oil make dry rot?

travisnd

That sounds just like the VB&P rod ends I purchased years ago for my old Z06 and at that price. I checked recently and VB&P seems to have trippled the price on the HD rod ends.

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.

sperkins

Seriously man. Some folks like to ask questions.
You've posted that link 5 times today alone - before noon.



.

travisnd

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.

travisnd

+1

Zenak how can we take your post serioulsy when you have no information on the most important safety upgrade ever.... titanium lugnuts.

davidfarmer

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.

John Shiels

I know I bought them 9 years ago. Why would anyone need them for new tie rod ends?

John Shiels

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.