84 tie rods loose
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,027
Likes: 30
From: Granite City Illinois
84 tie rods loose
Well I had a second opinion today at Firestone. I guess the tie rods are loose.
It seemed odd when they had the front tires off the ground (or lift) and wiggled either tire the opposite tire wiggled the same amount. It would seem like one should wiggle some without making the opposite ture wiggle if the tie rods were loose?
Im considering just getting them changed but the rack is leaking some too.
My thinking is if I put some stop leak i n, will the bad tie rods make the seals worse anyway?
What I would like to do is try the leak stopper, and if it seems better at all then get the tie rods done.
But if the tie rods being loose would keep the stop leak from working Im wasting my time. Or get the tie rods done first and take a chance with the stop leak after,
Midas qouted 700 to replace the rack and firestone qouted 850 NOT including alignment (another $90).
I feel this work is beyond what Im comfortable with but I can tell these places are high.
So, is there any point in trying the stop leak with the tie rods loose, so I can decide what I want to do right now? Is my thinking wrong and they wont affect the seals?
It seemed odd when they had the front tires off the ground (or lift) and wiggled either tire the opposite tire wiggled the same amount. It would seem like one should wiggle some without making the opposite ture wiggle if the tie rods were loose?
Im considering just getting them changed but the rack is leaking some too.
My thinking is if I put some stop leak i n, will the bad tie rods make the seals worse anyway?
What I would like to do is try the leak stopper, and if it seems better at all then get the tie rods done.
But if the tie rods being loose would keep the stop leak from working Im wasting my time. Or get the tie rods done first and take a chance with the stop leak after,
Midas qouted 700 to replace the rack and firestone qouted 850 NOT including alignment (another $90).
I feel this work is beyond what Im comfortable with but I can tell these places are high.
So, is there any point in trying the stop leak with the tie rods loose, so I can decide what I want to do right now? Is my thinking wrong and they wont affect the seals?
Pro
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 610
Likes: 12
From: Seattle Wa
Most of the racks Ive seen dont have tierods, so its not like you're throwing money away on them. It kind of depends on how much you can spend. You can do it all yourself, its really just a matter of unbolting old parts, and bolting on new. Make sure your wheels are straight when you begin, and make sure you count the exposed threads at the tie rods before you begin. Then go for it! Take lots of pictures if you need to, to help remember how it goes together.
As far as the snake oil goes, I wouldnt waste your time. It will swell the seals for a little while, allow them to wear out even more, then fail! h
PS You can also buy rebuild kits for your rack, for under $50. Look on utube lots of how to vids.
As far as the snake oil goes, I wouldnt waste your time. It will swell the seals for a little while, allow them to wear out even more, then fail! h
PS You can also buy rebuild kits for your rack, for under $50. Look on utube lots of how to vids.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 301
Likes: 0
I rebuilt the rack on my 84 with a 45 dollar kit from autozone, it was not bad at all, and was my first rack and pinion rebuild.
If you got the tie rod ends, and then later you bought a rack, you would just re-use the tie rods on the new rack since it doesn't come with them, but you would have to pay for an alignment twice that way.
If you got the tie rod ends, and then later you bought a rack, you would just re-use the tie rods on the new rack since it doesn't come with them, but you would have to pay for an alignment twice that way.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 10,036
Likes: 346
From: Anaheim CA
I bought a rebuilt rack through Mid America. It did not have the tie rod ends. What it did have was problems. Leaky seal, old bushings. It came from Lonestar Caliper Co. The main reason I went this way is because I had a box to send my old rack in for the core deposit refund.
If I had to do it again I'd send my rack to Turn One:
http://www.turnone-steering.com/
I talked with Turn One and they do NOT send out a box. You have to figure out how to pack it for shipping on your own.
Here's an article on rebuilding a rack (the rebuild was done by Turn One):
http://www.vetteweb.com/tech/vemp_11...d/viewall.html
If I had to do it again I'd send my rack to Turn One:
http://www.turnone-steering.com/
I talked with Turn One and they do NOT send out a box. You have to figure out how to pack it for shipping on your own.
Here's an article on rebuilding a rack (the rebuild was done by Turn One):
http://www.vetteweb.com/tech/vemp_11...d/viewall.html
Last edited by Cliff Harris; Oct 31, 2013 at 02:58 AM.
