Re: Tie Rod Troubles

Posted by Mike Flanagan on December 14, 1997 at 10:43:10

In Reply to: Tie Rod Troubles
posted by Fred Murphy on December 14, 1997 at 02:51:50

Fred, should have taken better notes... how often have I said that. If you are not afraid of the implications of having people think you are talking to yourself a pocket tape recorder works well during disassembly. And a polaroid although expensive.
Shooting from memory here and to lazy to go out into the shop so take what I'm telling you with a grain. Lay the arangement out on your table and if it looks logical it probably is right. Henry was a logical fellow. The spring is always the hardest to get out and always the last to come out. First to go in. Then a concave mucket that has a shoulder to fit into the spring and a depression that rides against the steering arm ball, then the steering arm ball, then the other concave mucket (depression against the steering arm ball) (usually missing with the cap riding on the ball). Tighten until cotter pin lines up and viola, it's in there!
The tie rod acts like a turn buckle in that the threads are right hand on one end and left on the other. Turning the rod itself in one direction lengthens and likewise in the other shortens. For assembly purposes just tighten until the measurement across the car to the back of the backing plates on the front and rear is roughly the same. Once the rubber is on the car you can tweak the front end alignment.
I just received my copy of Les Andrews new book and it's a goodun'! It's advertised in the Restorer or order direct from Cottage Hill Publishing, 22126 Cottage Hill Dr., Grass Valley, CA 95949. He's gonna make a lot of money selling this one.
I just order a second to keep by my chair in the den so I can have a clean and a greasy edition....
God Speed Under 50.
The Model A Fool.

: I should have taken better notes when I disassembled the front end! Need help on the tie rod assembly. It would seem to me that the correct allignment here will make minor adjustments for front wheel allignment easier. Are there simple measurements for assembling . I know that originally the tie rod ends were not completely screwed on all the way,when I took it apart.Does anyone know what the total length of the tie rod assembly is with ends attached? When assembling the inside of the ends,it looks like my notes show the disk against the grease fitting area,then the spring,then the disk with spring holder,the end plug would be last with a cotter pin. It looks like I will need to enlarge the metal seal cap opening to fit over the steering balls.Is this unusual for a repo.part? Once the tie rod is put on,it looks like the rod caps will be very close to the brake backer plate,to fit a tie rod plug tool on.Realy need advise on this little gem. Again thanks for the advice and Happy Holidays to One and All! Novice of the North

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