tie rod ends different?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 831
Likes: 288
tie rod ends different?
Bought a front end rebuild kit last November and am just getting around to installing it now. While assembling the tie rod ends and sleeves noticed the tie rod ends were different. In the attached pics below you will see one actually has a longer more gradual area then the other does inboard of the stem. Is this to account for the turning of the knuckles? If that end is supposed to be the outers to begin with? Also both dust boot covers are different. Also noted in the pics one back end is gold while the other is black with the code E14H. Before putting them on I just want to make sure there wont be problems down the road and if I have to contact the seller to get this straightened out.
Thanks
Bill
Thanks
Bill
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 789
Likes: 129
From: Los Banos CA
The tie rods are supposed to be different - but on mine, the boots were almost identical (at least no noticeable difference). The 'difference' is that one is a left hand thread and one is a right hand thread, so that when the sleeve spins, it moves the tie rods closer together or farther apart. It could be that yours were just built at different times, or were from different builders.
Mine were labeled such that the ends with 'right hand' threads (standard bolts are right hand thread) are located on the inner side for the tie rod on the right hand side of the car, and outer for the tie rod on the left hand side of the car.
Mine were labeled such that the ends with 'right hand' threads (standard bolts are right hand thread) are located on the inner side for the tie rod on the right hand side of the car, and outer for the tie rod on the left hand side of the car.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 789
Likes: 129
From: Los Banos CA
Here is the full document that Peterbuilt posted (it's a total of 3 pages). http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/?p=1021
However, now I'm wondering why all of the vendors sell the tie rod ends as the 'right handed threads' being either inner right hand or outer left hand? I'm going to have to check the tie rods that I just took off to see which way they were installed. Since I'm waiting for ball joint boots, I haven't actually installed mine yet.
However, now I'm wondering why all of the vendors sell the tie rod ends as the 'right handed threads' being either inner right hand or outer left hand? I'm going to have to check the tie rods that I just took off to see which way they were installed. Since I'm waiting for ball joint boots, I haven't actually installed mine yet.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
Likes: 72
From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
Installing the RH threaded tie-rod ends on the inner right and outer left allows one to turn the sleeves the same direction on both sides to adjust toe in or out. If you put both RH ends on the inners you'd have to rotate them in opposite directions when making toe adjustments, else all you'd be doing is putting the steering wheel off-center. HTH
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 789
Likes: 129
From: Los Banos CA
Installing the RH threaded tie-rod ends on the inner right and outer left allows one to turn the sleeves the same direction on both sides to adjust toe in or out. If you put both RH ends on the inners you'd have to rotate them in opposite directions when making toe adjustments, else all you'd be doing is putting the steering wheel off-center. HTH
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,426
Likes: 1,559
From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
There are several components that can be installed backwards and still work, one is the parking brake adjusters.
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