Tuesday Tech Tip #5 - New Tie Rods

The Bronco Picture of the Day:

This weeks tech tip is about steering tie rods and drag links. I performed this modification on my Bronco a few years back after seeing it on Broncofix.com, the following was cut and pasted from their website

Tools or Materials

1.250 OD x 0.812 ID DOM for the tie rod.
Tie rod tube should be about 38" for stock early Bronco knuckles (39.5" for 76-77 disk knuckles) and drag link should be about 25" for high misalignment ends and 27" if using the tie rod ends for the drag link. If using the F-series box and the high misalignment ends, then the drag link tube length should be 18.75".
Source
http://www.onlinemetals.com

I got my tubing from Specialty Metals in Kent, WA 

7/8" x 18 UNEF extra fine left and right hand taps
Source
Travers Tool Co, Inc
14-056-182 (plug style)7/8-18 right hand $20.47
McMaster-Carr http://www.mcmaster.com
2595A424 7/8-18 right hand $49
2595A999 7/8-18 left hand $108 (Special order)
MSC Direct http://www.mscdirect.com/

7 degree reamer
Source.
Afco Racing $120 p/n 80770 http://www.afcoracing.com
Stock Car Products $80 p/n R8201 http://www.stockcarproducts.com/
Goodson $50 p/n TR-216-2 http://www.goodson.com/


Tie Rod Ends
1. Passenger side tie rod (with hole and regular misalignment) Source: 85 Blazer 

2. Driver side tie rod regular misalignment) Source: 85 Blazer

3. Passenger side drag link end (high misalignment) 

4. Pitman arm side drag link end (high misalignment) 

Source
 
Autozone:
1. ES2233L pass side tie rod 
2. ES2234R driver side tie rod
3. ES2027L high misalignment drag link end
4. ES2026R high misalignment drag link end

The tie rod ends should come with the jam nuts, but the drag links won't. You'll need one extra right hand thread jam nut and one extra left hand thread jam nut
 
Source
Chevy dealer:
P/N:14026805 (left hand)
P/N: 14026806 (right hand)


The nut is a 7/8 -18 Right & Left hand thread, you might be able to rob an early to lat 80's Chevy or GMC 4wd Blazer, Jimmy, Suburban, or pick-up in the local wrecking yard.



After I cut the tubing to length and threaded it, I had to ream my knuckles from the top side. 
Then I had to raise my track bar mount. This is for two reasons. 1. the bolt will hit the drag link and prevent full travel of the steering and 2. it will align the arc of travel with the drag link, eliminating bump steer.

After the installation, you cannot see the track bar behind the drag link, it is perfectly aligned with the drag link.

Here are the list of benefits earned from this swap:

1. Bump steer is eliminated
2. The steering tie rods sit up higher, avoiding damage
3. The tie rod ends are all replaceable with easily found components
4. The tie rod ends are stronger than the factory Bronco units.