Tie Rod upgrade replacement?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 199
Likes: 1
From: tacoma wa
Tie Rod upgrade replacement?
I need to replace my front tie rods. Does anyone have a suggestion on what I should replace them with? I have a 2002 coupe, upgraded sway bars. It is a daily driver, but I do drive it aggressively. Thanks in advance for any advice!
-James
-James
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,596
Likes: 67
From: Bahama North Carolina
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 782
Likes: 45
From: Toronto Ontario
Another possibility is to replace them with spherical rod ends. The big advantage with this is that you can correct for bump steer. You would need to find a shop familiar with making these adjustments though, as its not that common a modification. If you go this route, also buy 'baloon seals' for the rod ends, or they will start making noise in no time flat. The rod ends shown are part of a 'bump steer kit' available from several forum vendors. The seals you will have to source seperately.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 199
Likes: 1
From: tacoma wa
tie rods
Sorry, been out in the field training for the last week :/ I haven't quite figured it out yet. Are the heavy duty tie rod replacements the same as what comes on the corvette stock? I would like to get the spherical ones, but I don't like to get things that I can't really do myself. I already have a lifetime alignment warranty from firestone anyways! Thanks a ton for your guys' advice.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
I agree 100%! Ive seen some C5s and C6s driven EXTREMELY hard and they use the standard steering stuff.
On the other hand,, if you drive your car like that sever times a day all week and it was a purpose built dedicated TRACK CAR, you would need a WHOLE LOT MORE than just heavy duty tie rod ends.
BC
On the other hand,, if you drive your car like that sever times a day all week and it was a purpose built dedicated TRACK CAR, you would need a WHOLE LOT MORE than just heavy duty tie rod ends.
BC
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 782
Likes: 45
From: Toronto Ontario
Simple is always the best. With that said, I've had these sphericals on my street car for over four years and never even looked at them. They are very quiet and reliable, when sealed properly. The only advantage they really serve is to give the alignment guy the ability to adjust them up-down, as well as in-out. This is really handy on a lowered car where the tie rods are now pointing towards the sky.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 199
Likes: 1
From: tacoma wa
sphericals
So if I went with spherical tie rods and lowered my car an inch on stock bolts, how hard would it be to find someone who knew what they were doing to perform the alignment on the car?
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 140
Likes: 1
From: Whitesboro Texas
tie rod ends
I used the Moog parts on the front and used the heavy duties from Corvette central on the back. You can't go wrong with the moog parts. A reputable alignment shop should be able to do a proper 4 wheel alignment for around $100 bucks. It's not rocket science. Just get good measurements before you change them and you should be close enough to get you to the alignment shop. I changed all 4 tie rod ends, installed poly sway bar bushings and installed Bilstien HD all around. The car handles like a dream now. Remember. ... You get what you pay for......
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 826
Likes: 12
From: Phoenix, AZ
Another possibility is to replace them with spherical rod ends. The big advantage with this is that you can correct for bump steer. You would need to find a shop familiar with making these adjustments though, as its not that common a modification. If you go this route, also buy 'baloon seals' for the rod ends, or they will start making noise in no time flat. The rod ends shown are part of a 'bump steer kit' available from several forum vendors. The seals you will have to source seperately.
I have not been able to find these seals. Can you provide some sources? Thank you
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 782
Likes: 45
From: Toronto Ontario
When I lowered my car on the factory spring with the bolts removed and just a .05" spacer, the oem tie rods produced over .2" toe change per side! When one of the tires went over a bump (or especially down into a pothole), it would steer into a different angle then the other, causing the car to dart. With the sphericals, the toe change is down to about .01"
http://www.sealsit.com/rodendboots.asp
