Tie rod/drag link question

[TheLimeRanger]

My ‘74 has knuckles from a 78/79 bronco and front disk that a previous owner put on. I know that wild horses sells tie rods that have the correct ends for them, or the sleeves that you put into the knuckles to make the original set up work. How can I tell what (if anything) was done by the previous owner to the knuckles to make the stock setup work? I have the pitman arm off due to a ps box rebuild and i have a bad case of the “while I have this apart I might as well...”

Thx

 

[SteveL]

I'm assuming your tie-rods are still below the knuckle. If so my guess would be theyve been reamed for the adapter sleeves. Easiest way to find out is drop a tie-rod out of a knuckle and look. You might be a ble to see by just removing the nut and looking where it pokes thru the knuckle.

 

[TheLimeRanger]

I’ll give it a shot. I’ve had my bronco since 2001, so it was obviously done prior to that, so it’s anyone’s guess as to what was done

 

[DirtDonk]

Yep, gotta take a look.
Could have been welded and re-tapered.
Could have used custom rod ends with larger tapered studs.
Along the lines of "custom" rod ends, they could have taken an F150 tie-rod and shortened it. Easy to see the difference though in the length of the drag link.
Could have had some tapered sleeves made.
Could have made their own like I did. But not likely in your case, since they have worked for almost 20 years! Hmm, how much do you drive it?
In my case the materials I used would typically wear out in about 15 to 20 thousand miles and I'd have to replace them. But they did work when they worked...

Paul

 

[sprdv1]

Yes sir.... ^^^^^

 

[TheLimeRanger]

Yep, gotta take a look.
Could have been welded and re-tapered.
Could have used custom rod ends with larger tapered studs.
Along the lines of "custom" rod ends, they could have taken an F150 tie-rod and shortened it. Easy to see the difference though in the length of the drag link.
Could have had some tapered sleeves made.
Could have made their own like I did. But not likely in your case, since they have worked for almost 20 years! Hmm, how much do you drive it?
In my case the materials I used would typically wear out in about 15 to 20 thousand miles and I'd have to replace them. But they did work when they worked...

Paul

soooo, I haven't driven it in a VERY VERY VERY long time, but I am oh so very close to driving it again. I know this mod was done pre 2001, and im very curious to know if it was done right, or half-assed. would the '74 tie rod ends fit into the knuckles in the first place?

 

[DirtDonk]

No.
If they are full-size truck knuckles the '74 rod ends would be to small and be never be tight.
If they are '76 or '77 Bronco knuckles the '74 rod ends would be too big and not seat all the way.

If the latter though, it would have been easy enough to ream the holes out larger. Since you have the full-size knuckles the holes would always have been too big and needed the tapered sleeves/shims to tighten up the hole.

They would be so loose that it would drive loosely and follow all the ruts. And it would be so loose you could easily check by hand if you moved a tire.
The best way to test any steering linkage tightness though is with the test with the wheels on the ground where a helper racks the steering wheel back and forth while you sit under the front and watch what's going on.

That shows any and every bit of looseness, even when it's small.

Paul

 

[TheLimeRanger]

I feel a big purchase coming on.... lol

 

[SteveL]

Does a stock 74 tie-rod set up adjust wide enough for 76-77 knuckles. Arent the 76-77 knuckles like 3"wider hole to hole

 

[DirtDonk]

No, it's usually too short to reach. I can't verify the 3" number, but I think you're pretty close, if not right on the money.
Well, it'll "reach" but you have so few threads engaged in the adjusting sleeve as to make it a non-starter. And I'm not sure if the toe-in was even close to correct for those that I've seen bolted up, so maybe the answer should just be "no way will the early tie-rod fit the later knuckles" and leave it at that.;D

I should know the exact difference by now, since our two tie-rods are different by a specific amount.
But I almost never remember that stuff!%)

Paul

 

[sprdv1]

I feel a big purchase coming on.... lol

may as well do it right huh

 

[TheLimeRanger]

Tie rod

may as well do it right huh

That’s the only way to do it. What my wife doesn’t know won’t hurt her lol. So about that duffs monster disk brake setup....

 

[SteveL]

The 78-79 disc brakes are fine. Even with stock early tie-rods with the adapter bushings. If that stuff is tight and your having steering issues the problem is likely elsewhere. Other things to look at would be alignment, play in the steering box, play in the steering shaft up to the column. Another thing to check is trak bar bushings or trak bar /drag link geometry. With that said upgrading to beefier tie-rods and or going tro will give you a better feel on the road.

 

[sprdv1]

That’s the only way to do it. What my wife doesn’t know won’t hurt her lol. So about that duffs monster disk brake setup....

LOL, amen.. Oh don't worry about it honey, I got it at a bargain

 

[TheLimeRanger]

Just had the box and the pump rebuilt and before I hook that pitman arm back up I got to thinking that maybe now is a good time to do the tie rods, track bar, drag link .....

 

[SteveL]

Unless you're running huge tires or wheeling it hard the stock suff is fine as long as its installed and adjusted correctly. Spend the $$ on other upgrades like hydroboost or lockers.

 

[sprdv1]

Just had the box and the pump rebuilt and before I hook that pitman arm back up I got to thinking that maybe now is a good time to do the tie rods, track bar, drag link .....

wheel mine mostly, so my motto is break it, upgrade it